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Alcohol and Bars |
It is against the law for a child below the age of 5 to be given alcohol, except for medical reasons. |
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You can go into a pub alone at 14, but only
for soft drinks, and with the agreement of the landlord. If the pub
has a children's certificate, the landlord may allow you into the
bar if you are under 14, but you must be with an adult and
leave by 9pm
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From the age of 16, you can have beer, cider
or perry with a meal in a restaurant, or a room used for meals in
a pub or hotel. You can also buy liqueur chocolates
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You can buy alcohol in a pub or off-license from the
age of 18
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Animals |
You can buy a pet from the age of 12
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Crime
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You can give evidence in court at any age, as long as the court believes you understand the duty to tell the truth. |
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You are legally responsible for any crimes you commit
from the age of 10 and may be punished by a court
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From the age of 18, you may serve on a jury
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Health
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You can agree to, or refuse to have, medical treatment
at any age, as long as the doctor or dentist feels that you
understand the consequences of your decision
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You have the right, at any age, to see your
health records as long as the doctor believes that you understand
what you are looking for and neither you nor anyone else will suffer
serious harm from anything you read.
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You may give blood from the age of 17 onwards
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Home
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Your parents have responsibility for you and you are
under their care until you are 18. This means that, strictly
speaking, you cannot leave home without their permission until then.
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Leisure |
You can see a U or PG film by yourself from the age
of 5 and a Category 15 film from the age of 15
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You can buy fireworks, place a bet and have a tattoo at 18. |
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Lottery tickets should not be sold to anyone under
16, nor can winnings be collected by anyone below that age
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Marriage
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You can marry, with your parents' agreement, from
the age of 16. If they won't agree, you have to wait until
you are 18. Anyone who marries at 16 or 17 without their
parents permission is committing a crime - but their marriage is still
valid (that is, legal)
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Money and Property
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You can open a bank account at any age if the bank thinks you understand what is involved. But you won't be able to borrow money until you are 18 |
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You cannot legally own land until you are 18
but you can inherit money or goods from somebody's will
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Politics
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You can vote in local, national and European elections
when you are 18
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You may become a local councillor or a Member of Parliament,
the Welsh Assembly or the European Parliament from the age of 21
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School
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From the age of 5 you must receive full-time
education, either at school or elsewhere
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You can ask to see your school records at any age,
as long as the head teacher is satisfied that you want to see them
for a genuine reason and that neither you nor anyone else will be
harmed by what you read
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You can leave school on the last Friday in June of
the school year in which you are 16
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Sex |
You have the right to receive confidential contraceptive
treatment at any age, as long as the doctor or nurse believes
that you understand what is involved
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A girl can agree to a man having sexual intercourse
with her when she is 16
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A man may agree to have sexual relations with another
man in private, as long as he and his partner are 16 or over.
There is no lower age limit for sexual relations between women. But
a woman aged 16 or over could be charged with indecent assault,
or other sex offences, if her partner is under 16
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Tobacco
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You can buy cigarettes, tobacco and cigarette papers
from the age of 16. It is not an offence to smoke below this
age, but uniformed police officers and park keepers do have the power
to confiscate cigarettes from children under 16
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Travel
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You can apply for your own passport when you are 16,
but will need your parents' written permission until you are 18
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You have to pay a child's fare on most buses and trains
from the age of 5, and a full fare from 16
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You can ride a moped up to 50cc when you are 16,
and a larger motorcycle, car or van at 17. The age limit for
driving a large van or lorry is 18 or 21, depending on the
weight of the vehicle
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From the age of 14, you are responsible for
wearing a seat belt in a car
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You can apply for a helicopter pilot's license and
hold a pilot's license at 17
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Work
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You can work part-time from 13, but the exact
rules for this vary from one part of the country to another
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You must be at least 14 to work on a market
- and even then you will need a license or to be working for your
parents
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You can join the armed forces from the age of 16
if your parents agree. If not, you must wait until you are 18
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