At what age can I…?
Whatever age, it’s important to know you’re rights as a young person, and although you may not think you can do a lot of things until you are 18, the list below may surprise you!
You can babysit if the parents see you reponsible enough
You can get a part-time job.
You can have a part-time job but you can’t work for more than 2 hours on a school day or Sunday, or during school hours, before 7am or after 7pm. During the holidays you may not work for more than 5 hours a day or more than 25 hours per week.
You can go to a pub on your own, but you can’t buy or drink alcohol, only soft drinks.
A boy of 14 can be convicted of rape, assault with the intent to commit rape and unlawful sex with a girl if she is under 16.
If you are convicted of a criminal offence you can get a fine from the Youth Court up to a maximum of £1,000
You are responsible for wearing a seatbelt (if you’re under 14 then the person driving is responsible for making sure you’re wearing a seatbelt).
You can usually have your ears pierced without parental consent
You can have your nose pierced without parental consent
You can have your bellybutton pierced with parental consent.
You can see a 15 or PG film without consent
If you have officially left school, then you can have a full time job. But remember, you can't work full time until the last Friday in June - even if you have turned 16 before this.
You can leave school
You get a National Insurance Number
You can leave home with parental consent
You can get married with one parent/gaurdian’s consent
You can buy cigarettes and tobacco
You can buy a lottery ticket
You can hold a license to drive a moped
You can have your bellybutton, eyebrow or tongue pierced without parental consent (although legally there is no age restrictions to piercings most places will need parental consent under the age of 16)
You can pilot a glider
A girl can legally have sex with a boy (but both have to be over 16 and give consent)
At 16 and under you can claim contraceptives and advice from your GP or doctor if you fully understand the advice that is being given to you. Discussions are confidential, but if under the age of 16, your GP will advice that you talk to parents/gaurdians about it.
Girls can buy emergency contraception, the morning after pill, over the counter in a pharmacy
You can choose your own GP
A male may consent to a homosexual act if he and his partner are both over 16
You can have an abortion without your parents consent
You can sell scrap metal!
You will have to pay the full ‘adult’ fare on buses, trains and tubes
You can join the army with parental consent. You must stay for the first 28 days whether you like it or not. Then for the following 6 months you can leave with 14 days notice. After that you have to serve for 4 years
You can apply for your own passport
You can babysit responsibly in the eyes of the NSPCC
you can drink wine or beer whilst eating a meal in a restaurant or an eating area of a pub (although you can’t buy the drink yourself and you must be with someone over 18)
You can buy chocolate liquors.
You can hold a licence to drive cars and motorbikes
You can get a private pilot’s liscence to fly a plane, helicopter, gyroplane, balloon or airship
You can emigrate
You can be interviewed by the police and be given a reprimand or warning without a parent/responsible adult present
You can leave home without parental consent
You can go to war.
You can buy and drink alcohol
You can apply for a license to sell alcohol
You can be a blood donor
You can join the armed forces without parental consent
You are legally seen as an adult in the eyes of the law
You can vote in general and local elections
You can get married
You can buy a house, flat or land
You can hold a tenancy
You can apply for a mortgage
You can rent or buy a rated 18 film or watch a certificate 18 at the cinema
You can open a bank account in your name without a parent or carer's signature
You can find out about natural parents details if you are adopted
You can change your name
You can be called to serve on a jury
You can sue or be sued
You can buy fireworks
You can make a will
You can place a bet
You can have a tattoo.
(back to the top)You can adopt a child
You can supervise a learner driver if you have held, and still hold, a full licence for that type of car for at least three years.
You can become a Member of Parliament, a local councillor or a local mayor.