When does a kid become a grownup?

[Geoff]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

Carol:
> Since we don't have a conversation going on, I've decided to post a new topic. Does anyone have an opinion on when a kid should officially become a grown-up? The age of majority used to be 21 (when I was a kid, you couldn't even vote till you were 21; I think it was the Vietnam War that changed that law.) Now it's 18 for most privileges (except alcohol and tobacco). In the WW, it's 17 (which, to me, seems too young given the prolonged adolescence in most modern societies). Anyone want to chime in on this topic? (Of course, kids mature at different rates, but I'm talking about kids in general.)

Geoff:
I remember that I was not able to vote or be considered legally to be an adult 
until the age of 21 - which bearing in mind that as a student teacher, I had been 
in charge of classes on my own at the age of 19 and 20 seemed a bit ironic.

The UK situation is a bit varied because Scotland often differs from England and 
Wales and their laws were often different even before the advent of the Scottish 
Parliament.

The age of majority in Scotland was lowered to 16 in 1969. 

In England and Wales it was lowered to 18 in 1970. The age of consent  was 
lowered to 16 for heterosexual relationships while gay relationships, which 
having been illegal until 1967, were initially set at 21 were lowered to 18 - as 
a compromise - in the late 1990s. Following a case in the European Court of 
Human Rights, it was further lowered to 16 in 2000.

Marriage is allowed at 16, although written consent is required from parents 
or guardians where a participant is under 18.

With regard to smoking and drinking, folk can purchase alcohol at 18 although 
they may be asked to prove their age, while the age at which tobacco products 
can be bought was raised form 16 to 18 in 2007.

Having gone cross-eyed looking this up, I hope that makes sense....