Age Rating Laws No Longer Enforceable in the U.K.

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AfterAscon

Tilting at WHARRGARBL
Nov 29, 2007
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This was quite funny when I read in the paper this morning. Which begs the question: I wonder what else they've forgotten to legislate properly?

I doubt any businesses will actually sell anything to people under the indicated age limit on boxes. All the main companies will have reputations to maintain and won't risk them by being morally ambiguous by selling violent/inappropriate material to minors.

Also the title is wrong. No longer enforceable? It was never enforceable. I hope everyone who got convicted over the past 25 years gets their conviction over turned.
 
Feb 23, 2009
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lewism247 said:
I'm tempted to exploite this, but i won't.You might get called up once the law is passed
No. You wouldnt get called up. The shop who sells you the games will probably get fined. Just like if you were sold alcohol, you wouldnt get told off, the shop who sold it to you would get in trouble.
 

Catchy Slogan

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Jun 17, 2009
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The government said it will pass the law again, filing all the paperwork properly this time around, and have the loophole closed in about three months.
Damn. I'll be eighteen in about three months, so it doesn't really make all too much of a difference to me really.

Why couldn't they have found this out a while back?

Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
 

Joshimodo

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Sep 13, 2008
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Magnatek said:
File this under, "Ha ha ha...ah, Britain...".

...Because the US never screws up.


Oh, wait.


Does anyone really care about this? It's not like the age rating ever stopped anyone buying anything.

People want stuff, companies want to sell stuff.

The end.
 

ChromeAlchemist

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Aug 21, 2008
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wordsmith said:
Not true, a shop can refuse anyone service at it's own discretion. HMV refused me enough games when I was younger, as well as barrel-loads of PA rap CD's. Last time I was ID'd for a game was last December when I bought L4D the day after my 18th birthday. Age rating laws ARE enforceable, but rather than "you're to young", it's now "I don't want to sell you this". ***** all you want, it's their right.
Exactly. And quite frankly, nothing changes, it's always been up to the retailer. I remember buying Perfect Dark when it first came out. Woolworths refused to sell it to me, but 3rd Testament Games did (I must have been around 12-13). The only difference between now and then is that now politicians are pissing and moaning about games full stop.
 

wilted_orchid

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Aug 11, 2009
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Kollega said:
Well,then yay for Englanders! Rock on,lil' dudes!

Cookies for guessing the reference.
...Finding Nemo?

I live in Northern Ireland (yes, we are part of Britain) and even if you tried to exploit this loophole absolutely bugger all would come of it because you'd just get asked to leave the shop for being a smart arse. Besides, since when did we need to have loopholes to buy things we're not supposed to have?
 

Sparrow

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Feb 22, 2009
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Magnatek said:
File this under, "Ha ha ha...ah, Britain...".
"Unwritten law: Americans aren't allowed to laugh at any other country, beacause they can't understand the concept of irony."
 

Jedamethis

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Jul 24, 2009
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Amnestic said:
The government said it will pass the law again, filing all the paperwork properly this time around, and have the loophole closed in about three months.
Well then, all you minors who want to go out and buy the latest and greatest, get 'em while they're hot and legal.
YAAAY!
 

Mr. Fahrenheit

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Mar 16, 2009
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Every single rascally youth in the United Kingdom that wittles away the hours of the day by slipping firecrackers up lizards' cloacas just collectively orgasmed.
 

S-Unleashed

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May 14, 2009
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Destal said:
I personally wouldn't have a problem with buying my son a M rated game when he's 14-15, however it should still be up to the parents as to whether or not it is allowed.
This makes since.
 

Captain Schpack

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Apr 22, 2009
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LOL ! This New Yorker says Britian is awesome. :)

in all seriousness thats a calssic mistake that can occur with laws today. to many laws and restirictions mean too much work and some thing just get over looked.
 

Gaias

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Apr 2, 2009
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All of this would be moot if parents started monitoring what their children are doing. Or better yet, start being parents and stop relying on media to do it for you.
Considering this is the ONLY age group (children) that these kinds of laws would affect.
 

Magnatek

A Miserable Pile of Honesty
Jul 17, 2009
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Sparrow Tag said:
Magnatek said:
File this under, "Ha ha ha...ah, Britain...".
"Unwritten law: Americans aren't allowed to laugh at any other country, beacause they can't understand the concept of irony."
I've laughed at myself and my own country far, far, too many times for it to ever be funny again. I do too understand irony, thank you very much. Besides, if I was given the opportunity to leave my country, I would take it.
 

Simriel

The Count of Monte Cristo
Dec 22, 2008
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What can this possibly have to do with the difference between Pegi and the bbfc? I mean its 25 years old, 25 years ago you didnt exactly have 18 games.
 

jboking

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Oct 10, 2008
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Eh, doesn't seem like that big of a deal. I'm sure many of the large game companies still wont sell to minors, just to avoid dealing with the government all together.
 

Kollega

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Jun 5, 2009
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Jadthegreat said:
Kollega said:
Well,then yay for Englanders! Rock on,lil' dudes!

Cookies for guessing the reference.
Simpsons, and we're not all English i'm Scottish lol
Well,i've actually took that from Phineas and Ferb. It's much better than Simpsons - less random violence,more of an actually funny jokes.

And i know that England is only south of Britain,but if i'd say "Britainers",i'd look much more stupid.
 

Elivercury

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May 25, 2009
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Well as interesting as this is. It's not like if a shopkeeper says to some 10 yr old "No you're not buying GTA IV, you're not old enough" he's going to start citing European law at them. And even if the kid did, i'm relatively certain his response would begin with F and end in Off.

Not to mention, i can't actually remember it ever being an issue to get 18 games. Half the time i just bought them and no questions asked (only seemed to be an issue with DVD's really), and should i actually get refused i just handed my parents the cash (assuming they weren't paying for it in the first place of course).

I dunno perhaps they are more strict these days? I imagine if their parents care enough not to buy the game for them they're probably not allowed it in the first place.

My question is, who exactly got sued over this? It's not like you can sue a 10 yr old for trying to buy an 18 yr old game. Perhaps they do the mystery shopper thing with DVD's, Alcohol and Fags for video games and fine the store like £10,000 or something if they sell it to the kid.

Interesting article though. They're blowing the severity of it way out of proportion though.
 

Kirky

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Oct 30, 2008
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Hmmm.......... As a concerned 14 year old I have to say that this won't make the slightest bit of difference.

People like me will always find ways to get the games they want, and I'm sure that stores that already don't sell these games to minors won't change their ways simply because of an age old clerical error on the behalf of the U.K Government, who have demonstrated time and time again that they have an extremely limited grasp of how to actually run a country.

There will always be those game stores that actually risk selling to underage customers, just like there will always be stores who enforce the laws even if they don't apply anymore. A reasonably intelligent teen will almost always be able to tell the difference between the two, and while it may take a little more effort, a little more time, they will eventually get hold of what they want.

Of course, this only applies for those of us who know that a little respect for the store staff, and not showing up dressed like we're about to go tag someone's property goes a long way towards being treated like people, instead of what are basically considered verminous pests (ie. the average teenager).

Just an FYI: Did you know that the government once introduced devices that broadcast irritating noises at frequencies above what the adult human can hear, but just within the audible range of teenagers to prevent teens from hanging around in front of stores?

Then of course they realised that this would also affect young children and babies, so it was removed and outlawed........ Really opens your eyes when you realise that society treats ALL teens as pests, no matter what they are actually like, and only react to obvious breaches of civil rights like this when they realise that the "innocent" younger children will be affected, giving no thought to the just as innocent teenage bystanders.

Of course, the sad irony is that it is actually this kind of treatment that prompts most teens into becoming the very thing society expects them to be; dangerous pests to be exterminated.