Age Restrictions

[Jace1709]

My First Topic

Age to get married (and have children 'morally'), UK=16, US=16 (I'm guessing, maybe even younger in some States if i remember right)
Age to drive a car, UK=17, US=16
Age to join a Military Force, UK=16, US=17

How is it that someone is considered responsible enough to do those activities, all of which can have VERY serious consequences to other people, especially with a child who is completely reliant on you, but drinking alcohol somehow requires an extra 4 - 5 of maturity to handle. For reference, this post is in no way a rant about not being old enough to drink, im 27, and dont drink anyway. It's just ive thought about this before, and ive wondered how Governments came to these wildly varied limits on what a person can do.

E.g, in an extreme example, a person in the US can have served in a war or 2 (potentially killed a fair number of people doing so), celebrated thier 5 year wedding anniversary, have a child entering pre-school, and clocked up 10's of thousands of miles driving (not quite as extreme as the others) before being allowed to drink legally.

Any thoughs?

 

[Biosophilogical]

In Australia I think it is 16 for sex, 18 for drinking, and 17 for joining the military (I think you have to turn 18 before you finish basic training). I'd assume the 17-age limit for the military is because of the world wars and young men wanting to fight (or you know, the ANZACs), the drinking limit got moved down from 21 or something (I'm pretty sure) because it was deemed stupid that people could die for their country yet not have the full legal rights of an adult.

I'm not sure about the sex bit, probably a carry-over from times when finishing secondary school was a far less likely outcome, so having a full-time career could occur from year 10 (or sooner).

 

[HassEsser]

In Australia I think it is 16 for sex, 18 for drinking, and 17 for joining the military

Looks like I'm moving to Australia.

 

[MysticToast]

I think the alcohol part is due to our bodies being more able to handle it at 21 than 18. Or something

 

[Biosophilogical]

In Australia I think it is 16 for sex, 18 for drinking, and 17 for joining the military

Looks like I'm moving to Australia.

As long as you don't expect to be packing heat, and can get over your silly 'human' fears of horrifically dangerous animals sharing a room with you while you sleep ... watching you ... waiting for the first sign of fear (also, don't mind the geckos: they're harmless ... mostly)

 

[Thumper17]

It was deemed stupid that people could die for their country yet not have the full legal rights of an adult.

A-FUCKING-MEN.

I don't drink but that is stupid. Legal limit here (Canada) is 18.

I just had a discussion with my friend over skype who lives in a different province. Where I said "You can do porn, drive, go to War, but suppin a brew, no dice." She was actually taken aback by that.


Seriously, you can whore yourself out, show yourself naked to billions of people, go to war and kill hundreds, drive your kid to school, but you cant drink a fucking beer? The fuck man.

 

[Jace1709]

I think the alcohol part is due to our bodies being more able to handle it at 21 than 18. Or something

If it was a biological thing, you would think it would be a worldwide (or at least in the developed nations) age restriction, but as far as i know (which is not a lot) its only the US that has it at 21 just now.

 

[HassEsser]

In Australia I think it is 16 for sex, 18 for drinking, and 17 for joining the military

Looks like I'm moving to Australia.

As long as you don't expect to be packing heat, and can get over your silly 'human' fears of horrifically dangerous animals sharing a room with you while you sleep ... watching you ... waiting for the first sign of fear (also, don't mind the geckos: they're harmless ... mostly)

Anything that's mostly harmless gets my seal of approval for "awesome reference"

but super serious back on OT: the drinking age in America is bullshit, and should be dropped 18

 

[Flutterguy]

IMO all these age limits make sense, at 16 some people may already be living on their own and need a car to get to their jobs (very rare case of course). Drinking on the other hand is not necessary at any stage of life and is simply detrimental to health. Not to say drinking is all bad I myself absolutely love my drugs, and if someone truly wants some it is never that hard to get.

 

[SilentCom]

I'm almost 22 so I can do all of those, therefore I don't care. Probably best to have all of them at one age instead of a different age for each.

 

[manic_depressive13]

Here in Australia I believe you can have sex and get your L plates at 16, but you need to be 18 to get married, drink alcohol or buy cigarettes. Not sure about army, I think someone said 17. I always found it odd that in America the drinking age is 21, but then if American laws made any sense firearms would be illegal by now.

 

[funguy2121]

My First Topic

Age to get married (and have children 'morally'), UK=16, US=16 (I'm guessing, maybe even younger in some States if i remember right)
Age to drive a car, UK=17, US=16
Age to join a Military Force, UK=16, US=17

How is it that someone is considered responsible enough to do those activities, all of which can have VERY serious consequences to other people, especially with a child who is completely reliant on you, but drinking alcohol somehow requires an extra 4 - 5 of maturity to handle. For reference, this post is in no way a rant about not being old enough to drink, im 27, and dont drink anyway. It's just ive thought about this before, and ive wondered how Governments came to these wildly varied limits on what a person can do.

E.g, in an extreme example, a person in the US can have served in a war or 2 (potentially killed a fair number of people doing so), celebrated thier 5 year wedding anniversary, have a child entering pre-school, and clocked up 10's of thousands of miles driving (not quite as extreme as the others) before being allowed to drink legally.

Any thoughs?

The war thing is easy:


I'd be OK with inverting the drinking/driving thing. You can drink at 15, drive at 17. Or you can drink from 16 on but if you choose to get a license before 18 and you're caught drinking you lose it 'til you turn 19. DUIs for minors result in juvie 'til 21, but cops have to offer to take kids home in lieu of public intoxication charges. That last part is exceptionally well advertised, which will resort in mucho celebrity endorsement.

 

[Biosophilogical]

In Australia I think it is 16 for sex, 18 for drinking, and 17 for joining the military

Looks like I'm moving to Australia.

As long as you don't expect to be packing heat, and can get over your silly 'human' fears of horrifically dangerous animals sharing a room with you while you sleep ... watching you ... waiting for the first sign of fear (also, don't mind the geckos: they're harmless ... mostly)

Anything that's mostly harmless gets my seal of approval for "awesome reference"

but super serious back on OT: the drinking age in America is bullshit, and should be dropped 18

While I agree that the right to drink should be given at the same time as other adult rights, I also think that you shouldn't sky dive with a faulty parachute. America has a lot of problems, politcal, economical, social and legal, and allowing three years worth of people to go out and legally drink for the first time is just going to exacerbate problems, and maybe even make new ones.

 

[teqrevisited]

Yeah that's pretty ridiculous in my opinion. It's not as if it's hard to get hold of alcohol if you really want to anyway.

I don't know a single person that hadn't had a drink before they were 18. For an example, whilst in sixth form my friends and I used to go home between lessons to drink and play CS:S. Now that's pretty harmless.

But apparently we could've each had a child & got married legally into what would probably have been life destroying situations. Definitely of the opinion that these kinds of laws need a slight rethink.

 

[HassEsser]

While I agree that the right to drink should be given at the same time as other adult rights, I also think that you shouldn't sky dive with a faulty parachute. America has a lot of problems, politcal, economical, social and legal, and allowing three years worth of people to go out and legally drink for the first time is just going to exacerbate problems, and maybe even make new ones.

I highly disagree. I'd say like 90% of everyone between 18 and 21 who plans on drinking when they become of age are already active drinkers (albeit recreational). The way I see it, if Jesus drank alcohol, I should maybe be allowed to drink alcohol too. It's also good for you, if you drink a moderate amount on the dailies.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

In Australia I think it is 16 for sex, 18 for drinking, and 17 for joining the military

Looks like I'm moving to Australia.

As long as you don't expect to be packing heat, and can get over your silly 'human' fears of horrifically dangerous animals sharing a room with you while you sleep ... watching you ... waiting for the first sign of fear (also, don't mind the geckos: they're harmless ... mostly)

I'd watch out for the Drop Bears though. They can make even the briskest of strolls like a roam through the darkest, most paranoid corner of hell. You might want to invest in a Kevlar umbrella.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I say no age limits. I say maturity meter. That, I would support.

 

[6_Qubed]

Ah, yes. Age restrictions. I remember caring quite a lot about these, back when I was an Angry Teenage Nerd.

But I'm 26 now, and I could give a shit. But I don't.