18 Year Olds in the UK and the US
Posted: 15 Jan 2022, 23:24
In both the UK and in the US the age of 18 is the age of majority. In theory, one would conclude that turning age 18 is the same in both nations.
Apparently not. In the UK 18 year olds are considered adults and as such can buy booze where in the United States the age to buy booze is 21.
That may be the only legal difference. I don't know. Perhaps others will post if they are aware that there are other differences.
I don't know if the law concerning being age 18 is the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Many laws in the US vary from state to state as the US Constitution specifies that all laws etc. that are not mentioned in the US Constitution are "hereby given to the states."
Def123 has pointed out in some of his posts how the rules are in year 13 in the UK. Year 13 is for 18 year old and older. He posted about during the noon break going to the pubs and having a pint then returning for afternoon classes.
In the US the equivalent is senior year in high school. In every high school that I am aware, 18 year olds are not considered any different than students who are not yet 18.
The only difference is that those not 18 need parents' signature for all kinds of things. Those 18 now sign for those high school documents themselves. Senior year in high school is still a closed campus even if a student is age 19!
This thread is about lads who are now 18 so the focus needs to remain with 18 year olds to age 21.
Until 40 or so years ago, the age of majority was age 21 here in the US. I suspect that here in the US culturally and in family situations lads are not really treated as adults until age 21.
Of course legally 18 year olds are considered adults. If they break a law and get caught, legally the parents are not responsible. If they go to prison they are housed with all the prisoners over age 18 meaning they are housed with men old enough to be their parents, and some even great grandparents.
It appears that here in the US there is a double standard on several different levels.
What do you guys think? This is not a legal discussion, but rather a cultural discussion so all here have opinions about how 18 year olds fit culturally in there own nation.
The discussion here is to compare how 18 year olds are culturally different in the UK and in the US.
Apparently not. In the UK 18 year olds are considered adults and as such can buy booze where in the United States the age to buy booze is 21.
That may be the only legal difference. I don't know. Perhaps others will post if they are aware that there are other differences.
I don't know if the law concerning being age 18 is the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Many laws in the US vary from state to state as the US Constitution specifies that all laws etc. that are not mentioned in the US Constitution are "hereby given to the states."
Def123 has pointed out in some of his posts how the rules are in year 13 in the UK. Year 13 is for 18 year old and older. He posted about during the noon break going to the pubs and having a pint then returning for afternoon classes.
In the US the equivalent is senior year in high school. In every high school that I am aware, 18 year olds are not considered any different than students who are not yet 18.
The only difference is that those not 18 need parents' signature for all kinds of things. Those 18 now sign for those high school documents themselves. Senior year in high school is still a closed campus even if a student is age 19!
This thread is about lads who are now 18 so the focus needs to remain with 18 year olds to age 21.
Until 40 or so years ago, the age of majority was age 21 here in the US. I suspect that here in the US culturally and in family situations lads are not really treated as adults until age 21.
Of course legally 18 year olds are considered adults. If they break a law and get caught, legally the parents are not responsible. If they go to prison they are housed with all the prisoners over age 18 meaning they are housed with men old enough to be their parents, and some even great grandparents.
It appears that here in the US there is a double standard on several different levels.
What do you guys think? This is not a legal discussion, but rather a cultural discussion so all here have opinions about how 18 year olds fit culturally in there own nation.
The discussion here is to compare how 18 year olds are culturally different in the UK and in the US.