Here in the UK the legal age for drinking is 18, the legal age for smoking is 18, the legal age for sex and marriage is 16 and of course there are ratings for films and video games etc.
My point is there are so many conflicting laws with age limits. Some of my school frineds joined the army when they were 16 and subsequently were goven the responsibility of handling lethal weapons and equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds, and yet they would not be able to legally do many of the things i mentioned above.
To show how stupid these laws are here are some examples of what they could and couldnt do at 16: They could haver sex but they would not be allowed to watch it. They would be able to get married but not have a drink on their wedding night. They have been trained as soldiers to kill people and yet legally wouldnt be able to play a video game or watch a film rated 18 because it is deemed too violent. I would not mind any of these things on their own but the fact that they all seem to conflict with each other makes it stupid. The government should put the ages for everything i have mentioned the same so there is a level of logic and consistency otherwise it just seems stupid and creates unfair complications.
The ability to kill and the seeing of it are two different things, as for sex, age requirements wouldn't stop a person if they wanted it. As for drinking, it is crazy, but somewhat nessessary, but a small drink in private company is acceptable. Where I am, you may legally have sex at 15, and we also aren't allowed to see it, but again, two different things.
when you think about it though it does seem odd that legally you can join the army and kill at 16 and yet you cannot play certain videogames or watch it in films. Of course they are different things, it still doesnt mean they are totally unrelated in this context.
Prohibitions of any sort are questionable, however, age limits on adult behavior do serve a purpose. From a legal standpoint, it is assumed that a minor under a certain age does not have the judgment to know what they are doing is probably not good for them. Taking into consideration own personal experiences, and the experiences of others, it can be argued that many young people do not know how to set proper limits for themselves, nor are they fully aware of the consequences of their actions (not that all adults are always so good at this either).
On the other hand, I find it rather silly that in the U.S. a person is considered "adult" enough at 18 to: smoke, vote, and join the military, but is denied the right to drink alcoholic beverages (much of this is due to immense political pressures put on the U.S. government by "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" back in the 1980's). Because of States' rights issues, then President Reagan had to essentially blackmail the states into raising their drinking ages to 21 by threatening to withhold federal highway funding. Most states got behind this pretty quickly as a result.
Here in the UK the legal age for drinking is 18, the legal age for smoking is 18, the legal age for sex and marriage is 16 and of course there are ratings for films and video games etc.
here in the RP drinking is only for 18 and above but even kids ages 12 and up drink,smoking idk but i've seen kids about 8 or 10 smoking!, most people don't have money to be married here so they don't marry but are still considered married you know what I mean?, but there is ratings on movies so they don't allow kids to watch so some of them just by dvd's.... if they can.
Prohibitions of any sort are questionable, however, age limits on adult behavior do serve a purpose. From a legal standpoint, it is assumed that a minor under a certain age does not have the judgment to know what they are doing is probably not good for them. Taking into consideration own personal experiences, and the experiences of others, it can be argued that many young people do not know how to set proper limits for themselves, nor are they fully aware of the consequences of their actions (not that all adults are always so good at this either).
I can see that they all serve a purpose however my main conclusion is that all these limits should be the same. This would give young people a clear idea of what the rules are eliminating the excuse of ignorance. It might also simplify court proceedings. I just think there should be one age when you are labelled an adult and at that age you can do anything and below that age you should be considered a minor(not in a legal sense) but so you cannot do anything.
I just think there should be one age when you are labelled an adult and at that age you can do anything and below that age you should be considered a minor(not in a legal sense) but so you cannot do anything.
Well, in the USA you are, by definition, a legal adult at age 18. Of course, you aren't allowed to drink until 21, the reasons for which tanstaafl28 explained above.
The age requirement for smoking and drinking however are also based on physical development and not just mental development. Many think that smoking and drinking during an individual's developmental phase (the most of which you do in your teens) does a great deal ofdamage damage to your long term health, and also creates greater dependance. Thats the rationalization at least.
Also, a comparative list for the States: Drinking - 21 (18 if military and on-base, supposedly) Smoking - 18 Marriage - 18 (younger with parental approval) Sexual Intercourse - 18 (with others 18+, varies slightly by state) Pornography - 18 Driving - 18 Military - 18 (younger with parental approval) Voting - 18
The age requirement for smoking and drinking however are also based on physical development and not just mental development. Many think that smoking and drinking during an individual's developmental phase (the most of which you do in your teens) does a great deal ofdamage damage to your long term health, and also creates greater dependance. Thats the rationalization at least.
I see the logic in that, but the human body doesnt actually stop growing until you are 22 years old. None of these limits seem to be above 21 so even from a biological point of view the laws are flawed.
Drinking - 21 (18 if military and on-base, supposedly) Smoking - 18 Marriage - 18 (younger with parental approval) Sexual Intercourse - 18 (with others 18+, varies slightly by state) Pornography - 18 Driving - 18 Military - 18 (younger with parental approval) Voting - 18
Actually only buying cigarettes is 16, you can smoke when younger. Sex varies by state, here it's 16 not 18. Driving is 16 in all states, and I believe that you have to be 18 for the military, Army, Navy, Marines etc no matter what your parents say.
Actually only buying cigarettes is 16, you can smoke when younger
Buying is 18, but you are right, you can legally smoke them at any age.
Driving is 16 in all states
Not with full rights. Not in Tennessee at least.
I believe that you have to be 18 for the military, Army, Navy, Marines etc no matter what your parents say.
Correct. My mistake. At one point it was younger. Either that, or they didn't check that hard to make sure. Now you have to have graduated High School or have a GED so that kind of puts a hard requirement on age.
Sorry theone99 but we dont want to make america the worlds standard. The customary(Pounds and ounces) system works well here but it might not work in other places in the world. Why change everything to our standards.
