OoP - A "mate" question for the Brits

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 65426

Ok, did anyone else get really tired of Ron saying "mate" every other 
sentence?

That's the first time I can recall Ron calling Harry "mate" and I 
don't think -- though I could be wrong -- anyone else has ever called 
him "mate." (Maybe Fred and George did, but I don't remember.)

My question for any British folks, is whether or not "mate" is 
something guys don't say to each other until age 15 or 16.

I know, what with all the other stuff in the book, this is relatively 
small, but I'm re-reading it now and it is really annoying me. :)

Darrin
-- No band name is allowed to have the word "mate" in it, from now on.