At what age does someone become an adult?

4.52.12pm GMT Tue 2nd Jan 2007

The Government had announced later in the year that they will be raising the age that someone can buy cigarettes at from 16 to 18. Also today I have been contacted by a Councillor in Birmingham asking what my view is on of the selling of spray paint to 16 and 17 year olds. Both the announcement and the question got me thinking, again, at what age does someone become an adult?

I have been interested in this question for a while and did some work on this when I worked at the British Youth Council. Did you know there are 13 different ages when rights and/or responsibilities are bestowed on people in the UK. Its absolutely bonkers! The list of ages and a selection of what you can do at those ages is at the end of this post (it is not exhaustive list and some of them are likely to change soon so please do not treat it as gospel!)

I believe there should be two (main) ages, one relatively early say 12 or so where a lot of the earlier rights and responsibilities such as owning a pet, or responsible for wearing seat-belt can be placed and a later one where everything else that is legal can be placed. I have always been quite flexible and pragmatic on this later age - I suspect somewhere between 16 and 18 is right.

Basically if someone can join the armed forces and pay taxes then they can certainly decide to buy a cigarette or who to vote for. That makes sense to me! I suspect it is easier and more practical to set that age at 16 rather than 18 but just because it is easier doesn't mean it is correct!

I have placed a poll on the the website www.colin-ross.org.uk giving a variety of options, I would be interested to know your view.

At 5

You have to go to school or be receiving alternative education

You can see a U or PG film at the cinema

At 7

You can draw money from a post office or savings account

At 10

You can be convicted of a criminal offence

You can open a building society account with the manager's agreement

At 12

You can buy a pet animal

You can see a 12 film at the cinema

At 13

You can be employed for a certain number of hours per week

You be placed in a secure unit of a care home for up to 72-hours if you have a history of running away, or may injure yourself or others.

At 14

You are responsible for wearing a seat belt

You can enter a pub and buy soft drinks

You (Male) can be convicted of rape, assault with the intent to commit rape and unlawful sex with a girl if she is under 16

At 15

You can possess a shotgun certificate

You can see a 15 or PG film without consent

At 16

You can buy premium bonds

You can sell scrap metal

You can buy cigarettes or tobacco

You can join a trade union

You can leave school

You can join the armed forces

You can choose your own doctor

You can claim social security benefit

You can leave home with your parents consent

You can get married with one parents consent

You can have Heterosexual and Homosexual sex

You can hold a licence to drive a moped

You can apply for a passport

You can work full time

You can drink beer or cider with food in a pub (food area) restaurant

At 17

You can hold a licence to cars and motorcycles

You can go to war

You can engage in street trading

You can purchase an air rifle

You can leave home without your parents consent

You can apply for a helicopter pilot's licence

You can emigrate

At 18

You can appear before adult courts

You can get married without your parents consent

You can vote

You can act as an executor of a persons will

You can make a will

You can see an 18 certificate film

You can bet

You can buy fireworks

You can change your name

You can own houses and land

You can apply for a mortgage

You can sue and be sued

You can go abroad to sing, play or perform professionally

You can sit on a jury

You can be a blood donor

You can buy alcohol

You can drink alcohol in a pub

You can have a tattoo

At 21

You can stand in a parliamentary or local election

You can hold a licence to drive all large goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles

You can hold a licence to sell alcohol

You can adopt a child