In the UK do young people become adults at the age of 16 or 18?
2006-07-31 08:20:16 · 24 answers · asked by gulamhusein 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I am a barrister specialising in children law.
The short answer is 18. 18 is the age when your parents automatically cease to have parental responsibility for you and you are no longer subject to the Children Act 1989.
The longer answer is that it depends: the age of consent is 16; the age at which you can drive a car is 17; the age at which you can vote is 18; the age at which you can drive a lorry is 21.
2006-08-03 05:46:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
18
2006-07-31 08:24:22 · answer #2 · answered by cool_big_sam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
18
2006-07-31 08:23:26 · answer #3 · answered by ♥ jojo ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
18
2006-07-31 08:23:09 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are young adults at the age of 16 and adults at 18 or so i have perceived passing into these age groups although at 17 i am treated like an adult by the majority of people.
2006-07-31 08:24:28 · answer #5 · answered by keith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
16
2006-07-31 08:23:21 · answer #6 · answered by m_thurson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
UK
legally is 18 but different things are legal at different ages, eg you can drive at 17, get married at 16 with parent consent (18 without), lots of places charge adult when you are 16. AS said legally 18 but there is confusion.
2006-07-31 09:21:54 · answer #7 · answered by jono 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the strict answer is 18. Until then, although young people can for example, from the age of 16 get a council house, they are still regarded in law as minors until they reach their majority of 18. If my memory serves me right, someone under the age of 18 cannot be sued for defaulting on a contract. I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong.
2006-07-31 08:28:21 · answer #8 · answered by Raymo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
18 in the eyes of the law. Thats when you can legally drink, vote, etc. However you can marry, smoke and leave compulsory education at 16, and drive when you're 17. And some stingy places (ie theme parks) charge adult rates at 11 or 12, and even our buses in our area do. In other words, children become adults when it suits everyone else. :P
2006-07-31 08:30:23 · answer #9 · answered by hannahmarie2806 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is 16. As soon as you turn 16 you can be arrested and you're parents not involved.
The age of legal culpability is 8. Any child over the age of 8 can be charged with a crime and if it is of a serious enough nature be tried in the court system.
2006-07-31 08:28:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋