To all the British Escapists

[Lethos]

I dunno about Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland, but here in England when we reach 21 we ritually drink the blood of the monarch so that we are bound to them till they die.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I once got ID'd when buying some solar powered garden lights

The ones with the spike to drive them into the ground? That's why.

 

[Davey Woo]

I don't really understand why 21 is important, it just is, sometimes more important than 18, I guess maybe it's because you're more than 2 decades old?

Also not everywhere, but sometimes guys can't get into clubs unless they're 21.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

As long as this thread is attracting British people, I have a question too.

Do people actually watch Dr. Who over there?

A good amount of people, but it's not selling as well as some people think it does. Although it's more because people don't want TV much any more.

Bzzzzt. Wrong answer - mostly propagated by the tabloids.

MORE people actually watch it than used to. It's just they choose to iPlayer it because it's on at a time when a lot of us are actually working or out.

The lowest the figures have ever been was at 4 million viewers (60 million possible) so 6.66% (Heh) - Highest have been 13 million (US Equivalent of 66 million viewers)

The God Complex got about 6 million LIVE viewers, and there's approximated another 6 million recording viewers - like me.

 

[MindBullets]

Tradition up here in Scotland is we get a kilt (which are bloody expensive btw) and/or throw a ceilidh [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9ilidh] for our 21st.

So, it tends to be a reasonably big deal.

 

[WaysideMaze]

On my 21st birthday I went out and got shitfaced. But since I do that every birthday anyway it wasn't anything special.

 

[Sparrow]

21? Fuck that, it's 18 in England. You can do everything.

[sup]Hey, did I mention I'm 18 in two weeks?[/sup]

 

[Extravagance]

18 is legal adult, so you can do anything after that. 21 is the "you're an adult now" age, because you're out of teenage years. Most people tend to get blind drunk.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I think the main point here is your Granny said it and she is kind of right. Now while I may not be British myself this is the same for Ireland. In Ireland and Britain years ago 21 used to be a big deal because that was when you could do all the stuff that was illegal. Now feel free to discount it about the UK but that is pretty what I know of it in Ireland and from people from the UK who I have mentioned it to.

Also in Ireland and the UK some clubs and pubs will still not let you in until you are 21.

 

[jurwell]

The only reason becoming 21 is important in Britain is because it's generally accepted that on your 21st you have the most disgustingly opulent, garish, decadent, drunken party.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

21? Fuck that, it's 18 in England. You can do everything.

[sup]Hey, did I mention I'm 18 in two weeks?[/sup]

you cant buy alcohol alone in shops.

if thats just scotland, i'm worried.

 

[sniddy_v1legacy]

Its when your supposed to get the 'Key to the door'
its a generational thing so your grandma would tell you its an important age because 'back in her day' it was.

nowadays though, not so much, but still even if you dont know why your celebrating, tradition is tradition

This, pretty much

I think it also used to be the voting age - and somethign else, so it USED to be the age you become 'adult' and a citizen in your own right eligible to vote

Now, yeh 18's the new 21

 

[CounterReproductive]

Well your Grandmother is living in an older age. 18 is when everything kicks off so that's the major birthday now. Trust me, I'm 17 and nobody gives a shit about 21 anymore than 20 or 22.

With respect, I'll trust you when you've earned it, you are 17 I'm 38 I'd love to have my 21st again i got more wrecked then than I did at 18 and I was in the military for both birthdays.

18th I remember waking up in a ditch on the road back from the pub with pockets full of ex Newcastle Brown Ale bottles and a pain in the back of my neck.

21st I woke up in bed after a heavy session with friends and was with a nice lady and had another drink. repeat till next morning.
#Ah Nostalgia...

 

[MarsProbe]

Used to be that you'd get a key to the door, not anymore though, but when it is usually it's signified by a stupidly sized key. My family are a bit traditional and they do it, might be a Scottish thing mind you.

It actually took two and half pages for someone to finally mention the reason why 21 used to be an actual landmark birthday? Poor show!

Sadly, after your 21st, the next landmark is your 30th, which is when your birthdays tend to be more about how old you're getting rather than how young you still are. Alas, I'll be 30 next year. Ah well, I've had a good innings. Sort of.

 

[MCrewdson001]

nope 16 and 18 are the important ones

 

[Riobux]

As long as this thread is attracting British people, I have a question too.

Do people actually watch Dr. Who over there?

A good amount of people, but it's not selling as well as some people think it does. Although it's more because people don't want TV much any more.

Bzzzzt. Wrong answer - mostly propagated by the tabloids.

MORE people actually watch it than used to. It's just they choose to iPlayer it because it's on at a time when a lot of us are actually working or out.

High-five because I didn't include iPlayer or other various online sources!

 

[Albino Boo]

You couldn't vote unless you were 21 until 1969. 21 used to be the age at which you could get married without parental consent, that also changed around the late 60s. You used to be able to smoke and join the army at 16 but within the last 10 years that has gone up to 18.

 

[Weslebear]

It's the 18th here really since that's when your classed fully adult, that's the big one. 21st means jack all, I thought that was more an American thing.

On a closely related topic, I am 18 in under a month, feels good bro the same.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

21? Fuck that, it's 18 in England. You can do everything.

[sup]Hey, did I mention I'm 18 in two weeks?[/sup]

you cant buy alcohol alone in shops.

if thats just scotland, i'm worried.

Might well be, you can buy alcohol in shops at 18 in England. Not quite sure what you mean by "alone" though.

OT: Used to be that 21 was when you were legally allowed to have teh buttsecks with another dude, maybe your grandma is hinting at something

 

[Wakey87]

21 used to be the age you were reconised as an adult. The old tradition was to be given the key to the household to come and go as you pleased. people today still get blown up novelty keys on their 21st.