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Subject: 
US age restrictions
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Fri, 27 Jul 2001 05:08:33 GMT
Viewed: 
154 times
  
In lugnet.org.us.nelug, Dave Low writes:
May I ask why the drinking age in the US is 21? Do any other
rights/privileges accrue at that age, or is everything else 16/18+?  Or is
alcohol thought to be such a dangerous drug that it shouldn't be used while
someone is still in their teens?

I think some things (like driving at least) are defined by state law, while
others are nationwide... but I think (at least around here):

15.5 - Can get a learner's permit (can drive with supervising driver present)
16 - Age of consent (what does that actually mean?)
   - Can get a driver's licence
18 - Can vote
   - Treated legally as an adult
   - Could get drafted! (if it were reinstated)
   - May *purchase* cigarettes (note, you can smoke all you want if you are
     given them!)
21 - Drinking age (21 also used to be voting age, but that changed in the 60's
     or so... I'm not sure exactly when)
25 - Can rent a car (how that got decided I'll never know). Actually, I think
     you *can* rent a car before then but it's exhorbitantly priced? Something
     to do with insurance, I'm sure.

DaveE



Message has 3 Replies:
  Re: US age restrictions
 
(...) - usually treated as an adult within the court system (...) Actually, this one varies for various things. (...) - Usually the age one can _act_ in a pornographic film - see below... (...) - Usually the age one can _buy_ or be _given_ (...) (23 years ago, 27-Jul-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: US age restrictions
 
(...) No, actually, in Mass it's 16 for permit and 16.5 for license. I just got mine yesterday (half a year "late" ;-). 'Til you're 18, you have a junior-operator license, meaning you can only drive at certain hours. How come I know the laws better (...) (23 years ago, 27-Jul-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: US age restrictions
 
(...) 1972 - I voted for the first time, in a Presidential Election, at age 18. (23 years ago, 27-Jul-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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