[HPforGrownups] Coming of Age

[Pen Robinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 75440


On Tuesday, Aug 5, 2003, at 03:46 Europe/London, Arya wrote:

> Seeing the posts about the age to drive or own a bike, I was wondering 
> and
> wonder if an actual UK'er can give an answer (not a guess from one of 
> us
> living elsewhere)-- what are the milestone ages in the UK?  Like when 
> can
> you get a driving license?  What is the age of consent (sexual)? What 
> is the
> age of voting, drinking, etc..all that crap.  I see all different 
> things in fan fics
> and conjecture but I think it's just biased to suit ones needs (most 
> especially
> in Fandom) so I was wondering if someone can give a solid answer.
>
> If you are still unclear what I mean, here is an example for the US 
> (every
> state may be a little different, my answers are for Wisconsin-- where 
> I am):
>
> 15 and a half: eligible for learner's permit to learn to drive
> 16: eligible for a driver's license
> 18: eligible to vote, engage in "consensual sex", enter into a legal 
> contract
> (marriage, buy home, etc), join military, gambling (someplaces), pay 
> taxes,
> buy cigarettes, and maybe some others things- this si the general 
> "Comming
> of Age" mark in the US.
> 21: Drink (in most places in the US, some still are only 18), Gambling 
> (if the
> age isn't 18, then its 21, depending on the location)
> 25: age at which insurance companies finally think you are an adult 
> and so
> they lower your rates and you can now--finally--rent a car.  
> (Personally, this
> one has always really pissed me off, well, it did anyway, when I was 
> under
> 25)
>
> Any UK answers??
>

Umm....

16   Age of consent for sex.  Can purchase cigarettes.   (Image of 
smoking afterwards hastily wiped from Pen's mind)  Can marry, if 
parental consent is obtained.  This does not seem to have any parallel 
in the Wizarding World, at least, not that we've learned about.
17  Can learn to drive.  (Strictly, I suppose people with access to 
private land can drive when they are younger, but to go on the public 
highway you must be 17 or more.)  You can take the driving test at any 
point after your 17th birthday.   Note that driving lessons are *not* 
part of the school curriculum but must be paid for privately (unless 
parents can be conned into it, a prospect I regard with some horror now 
that my daughter is 16).  The obvious parallel here is with Wizards 
coming of age at 17, being allowed to do magic, and being able to 
obtain their Apparition license.
18  Can vote.  Can marry without parental consent.  Can buy alcohol in 
pubs.  (Obviously alcohol for the young is frowned on, at least by 
Hermione, but I can't remember whether it would be illegal for Ron to 
obtain Fire-Whisky, or just naughty!)
21  The symbolic 'coming of age' but there isn't much left of 
importance by now.  Possibly you cannot become a Member of Parliament 
until you are 21, I'm not sure.  Possibly also cannot obtain HGV 
license (Heavy Goods Vehicle) until 21, but that is a vague notion of 
mine and I wouldn't swear to it.

Minimum school leaving age is 16, and you start paying tax once you 
start earning a sufficient sum.  I don't know at what age people are 
entitled to join the military.  Don't know about age limits on car 
rental, either, but the ability to drive is not quite as crucial in the 
UK as in the USA.

Hope this helps,

Pen