Am I the only one who thinks most everything is louder than 25+ years ago?

I carry earplugs with me everywhere. I wear them for zumba, in theatres, at nightclubs, at bars, and I wish I had had them last time I was at an amusement park. Nightclubs/danceclubs have always been loud, same with concerts, but theatres (both live and cinema) and some zumba teachers, and other venues I find it just absurd how loud the volume is turned up. I would never want my child to work at Abercombrie and Fitch; the music is so loud I would worry about her hearing. Same with working in loud bars and clubs. I went dancing almost every weekend for a few years there, but it doesn’t compare to all night in that loud music several nights a week.

I already have some slight hearing damage so I try to be careful, but it is just ridiculous. OSHA I would assume has some rules about this in the workplace, but I have often wondered if there should be some sort of rules for outside of workplace. My standard would still be pretty loud. I’m not looking for everything to be in normal voice. Or, maybe there has to be a warning? My girlfriend who is 40 had no idea loud music causes hearing loss, how can that be?

What are your thoughts?

I’m in America by the way, and this seems to be the case everywhere I visit in my country.