General Chat

Funny old country we live in:
5 years old
• must attend school or home education
• can go and see a U or PG movie
• can have bank/ building society account in own name
• can have premium bonds in own name
7 years old
• can draw money from Post Office or savings account
10 years old
• can be held criminally responsible
12 years old
• can buy a pet
• see a 12A film unaccompanied
13 years old
• can get a job (can only work for a certain amount of hours)
14 years old
• is responsible for wearing own seatbelt
15 years old
• can see a 15 certificate film
16 years old
• can get married with one parents consent
• can have heterosexual sex
• can have homosexual sex
• can leave school after official leaving date
• can joined armed forces with parental consent (but not permitted into war zone)
• can work full time
• can claim social security benefits
• can get licence to drive a moped
• can sell scrap metal
• can join a Trade Union
• can choose your own doctor
• can buy premium bonds
• can drink beer, cider, porter or perry with a meal in a restaurant
• can play the National Lottery
• can sell National Lottery tickets
• can change your name
17 years old
• can obtain a licence to drive vehicles (except certain heavy goods ones)
• can be sent to prison
• can go to war
• can buy an air rifle
• can be a street trader
• fly a plane
• can give blood

But you have to wait until you are
18 years old before you :•
can buy alcohol
• can drink alcohol in a pub
• can buy tobacco/cigarettes
• can appear before an adult court
• can make a will
• can act as an executor of a will
• can bet
• can get married without parents consent
• can buy a lighter refill
• can sit on a jury
• can vote
• leave home without parent or guardian's consent
• can buy fireworks
• can sue and be sued
• can see an 18 certificate film
• can hold a mortgage
• can buy land/ houses
• can go abroad to perform professionally
• can get a tattoo
21 years old
• can drive any mechanically propelled vehicle (providing relevant tests passed)
• can stand in an election
• can adopt a child
• can hold a licence to sell alcohol

Well- I was let smoke and drink, early age. As it was not forbidden, it held no fascination for me.

Found much better things to do with my money, never bothered since.

It wont work one iota,,,,what a farce,!!,,,,,!!supose they want to look like they are doing their bit,,,to keep the radicals quite,,,,

Youre next breath of fresh air will cost you,???

Its a ridiculous law - typical of this Government yet again - its not illegal to smoke but just to go and buy them !!!

Tracy....they can smoke 'em but if they've run out they'll have to send one of their older colleagues to get some....bit like 14 year old school kids did with their older mates! ;-))))))

The amazing thing about this is that a 16 year old can go out to work and pay their taxes - what happens during their breaks when they want a ciggie?

our laws really are stupid. Bit like the drink laws. You cant legally buy alcohol until 18 but if you go for a meal it is alowed for an under 18 to have wine with the meal or so I believe.

Yes, they've raised the age to buy them to 18 but you can still legally smoke at 16. Can't see what difference it will make really!

Not here in Northern Ireland!! The lowest age for buying ciggies remains 16.
I don't know what is wrong with the government that they couldn't have extended the law to here!!
I pass a group of 14 year olds EVERY DAY in their school uniforms having a good smoke before they go to school.
My son refuses to use the toilets at his school because they stink of cigarette smoke - his school is for 12-14 year olds.

Ails x

yes I think it will just make it more of an exciting challenge for youngsters. If they can get away with being 18 instead of 16 it will give themmore street cred or whatever they call it these days. The only way it would make a difference is if they crack down on the shops that sell to underagers. But having said that a lot of people import fags and sell them from their houses round here so thats not going to stop them.

I'd like to say it woul affect me - but being asked for ID or being 18 passed me by decades ago.

If kids want to smoke they will smoke. I am not saying it is right - but they will get round it.

I started smoking at 12 so have a fair idea about this one.

Some shops around here have had signs 'For proof of age' up for quite some time now.
Always thought it was a good idea to raise the age.

Hev x

apparently it goes up from 16 to 18 today.