Poll: Legally an adult

[IzisviAziria]

BTW, do you drive since you are 16 because you don't have any other ID? It's pretty weird for spaniards (and many others) that Americans don't have a National ID. Not a passport; that's another thing. So the driving license functions as an ID... is that right-ish?

Your ID is marked by your state, and then from there it's assumed as part of the US by virtue of belonging to one of the states. So each citizen has an ID from whatever state they live in. You don't have to have a drivers license to get an ID card. I have a friend that is 22 and still doesn't have his license (which over here, is extremely rare) so he has to go get an ID card so that he can get a job and buy alcohol etc.

But most Americans get their license by the time they're 18 anyway.

*edit, damn ninja'd

 

[Shraggler]

BTW, do you drive since you are 16 because you don't have any other ID? It's pretty weird for spaniards (and many others) that Americans don't have a National ID. Not a passport; that's another thing. So the driving license functions as an ID... is that right-ish?

Since it looks like no one has answered your question, I'll do so.

Yes and no. We don't have national or even state IDs, separate from driver's licenses.

Legally (at least in my state) one can obtain a driver's permit at age 15. This is similar to a license but with restrictions - mainly not being able to drive anywhere without a parent or guardian in the vehicle. It is used in driver's education courses as we can obtain a license on our 16th birthday, provided we pass the driver's exam. The exam is done through a state licensing center (Department of Licensing).

Once we have a driver's license, that is our primary form of identification. It is provided by the state one resides in (usually) and each state has a different design for the license itself.

Each license lasts 5 years before it needs to be renewed. There is no reason for this other than a steady income for the state. There are no "re-tests" or anything of the sort. Once you've earned your license, you have it for life (barring certain circumstances).

Once you reach age 21, the license is then horizontially oriented when renewed, giving grocers and the like a quick way to ascertain the age of a person. There are counterfiters out there so there are a lot more ways to verify the authenticity of the license than just the orientation.

Edit: Nevermind, already answered.

 

[tacotrainwreck]

Technically 18 is when you are considered an adult but it isn't until 21 you can do the more adult action of drinking alcohol.

Which, ironically enough, isn't a very adult action.

 

[Death God]

So today I am 18 and am now legally and officially and adult according to the American government. I am held fully responsible for smoking, gambling, credit cards, the whole shibang. So, because I now each country has different laws, what is the legal age of an adult in your country and do you think that it is a good age to be held responsible for every action or do you think that it should be a higher/lower age?

You forgot something. You can legal buy a shotgun or a rifle at 18. You still have to be 21 to buy a pistol.

That's right. I almost forgot. That and voting and signing up for the draft (not looking forward to that). Wonders of being 18.

 

[renegade7]

I thought 21 was the age in America?

That's for drinking. Bullshit, I know.

 

[Delsana]

Who cares?

By that age you're still an immature vulgar juvenile and can't really do much of anything save be an idiot, though you might be less of an idiot from time to time.

By 16 you can smoke (but not purchase tobacco), drive, and use credit. The reason for this is because the juvenile laws take affect and you can start working less restricted amounts.

The age to be considered an adult "in TERMS of AGE" is 18 (before that is a teenager, then an adolescent, then a child, and then a baby).

The age to be considered an adult "in TERMS of LAW" is 21.

Who really cares that much about drinking?

---

BTW, all states have an issued state ID that can be used in the case that you never got your drivers license for some reason such as living in a bus hub or something in a city when 16 or 18; however, this state ID has the same registration number that you'll use for your drivers license when you get it.

 

[Verlander]

Everything is 18 in Britain, and I like it that way, except driving at 17, which makes sence so you don't immediatly drink and drive.

Apart from voting. And sex. And gun ownership. And purchase of livestock.

Well I did make an incorrect blanket statement, but to be honest I didn't realise the voting age was 16, I never thought about purchasing livestock or guns and to be in Razzle you have to be 18, so I didn't think about the actual age about sex. I also didn't mention that you could join the Armed Forces at 16, but 18 is the age where you are considered an adult in the eyes of the law.

To be fair, people here do whatever, whenever, and few people really care. I agree that people only consider you an adult at 18, but it's better than a patronising pat on the back at 16 and adulthood at 21 *cough*America*cough*

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

BTW, do you drive since you are 16 because you don't have any other ID? It's pretty weird for spaniards (and many others) that Americans don't have a National ID. Not a passport; that's another thing. So the driving license functions as an ID... is that right-ish?

it basically does.

there are very very few people who don't end up getting their license (if they take the test enough), and there isn't much use for some kind of ID besides for when your driving, so it basically acts as some kind of "national ID".

granted i wouldn't mind getting a state/national ID just because, but for now it seems to work well enough.

 

[Loop Stricken]

And you have to be 14 to have sex(but max distance between age is 2 years older) .

Damn, I was just about to pack my suitcases too.

Anyway I'm from the UK. I'm also 26 so I'm too old to remember or indeed care about the age of consent for anything.
I do know that the local co-op won't sell you fags or booze if you look under 21, even though the legal age is... 18? Which seems a tad silly.

Oh, also I don't consider myself an adult. I'm a 26 year old boy.

 

[ScrubberDucky]

To be honest, most people in the US don't act like adults, even at 21. Maybe they're prepared for it, maybe not. I know moving the required age up would only piss people off, but still.

And yes, I know this makes me look like a "kids these days"-ing old man, but people just don't mentally age as quickly when the ease of living is so high like it is in so many places in the US.

 

[chadachada123]

So today I am 18 and am now legally and officially and adult according to the American government. I am held fully responsible for smoking, gambling, credit cards, the whole shibang. So, because I now each country has different laws, what is the legal age of an adult in your country and do you think that it is a good age to be held responsible for every action or do you think that it should be a higher/lower age?

You forgot something. You can legal buy a shotgun or a rifle at 18. You still have to be 21 to buy a pistol.

In my state (Michigan) you can legally own a shotgun at age 12, though you can't purchase it until 18. This is, as others have pointed out for drinking laws, a state law and not a federal one.

 

[chadachada123]

I think that's a pretty good system. I'm not a big fan of the government invading everyone's private lives.

Doesn't Germany censor things to the point of being media nazis?

Their line of thought for video games is literally as follows.

All video games are children's toys.

Children's toys cannot be art nor can it be historical.

Only historical or artistic things can display Nazi imagery of ANY sort.

Video games cannot have Nazi imagery of any sort. Period.

 

[Tselis]

So today I am 18 and am now legally and officially and adult according to the American government. I am held fully responsible for smoking, gambling, credit cards, the whole shibang. So, because I now each country has different laws, what is the legal age of an adult in your country and do you think that it is a good age to be held responsible for every action or do you think that it should be a higher/lower age?

Congratulations, welcome to the war.

I thought 21 was the age in America?

Ah, no. 21 is the legal age for drinking. At 18 you can enlist in the military, kill/die for your country, buy cigarettes and get cancer, get a drivers license without parental consent, get a job to pay for the apartment you just rented, get credit cards and go into massive debt, you can even get married to the school whore (male or female) while telling your folks to fuck off, and a whole bunch of other things. You just can't get wasted. Funny how that works.

 

[octafish]

18 in Australia, though companies will start charging you adult prices long before then...

Well really it is 16, 18, and 21. Sixteen is the legal age of consent, you can sign legal documents/contracts, and can be charged as an adult. At 18 you can vote, drink and hold a drivers license. Twenty one is the traditional age of a coming of age party.

 

[Death God]

So today I am 18 and am now legally and officially and adult according to the American government. I am held fully responsible for smoking, gambling, credit cards, the whole shibang. So, because I now each country has different laws, what is the legal age of an adult in your country and do you think that it is a good age to be held responsible for every action or do you think that it should be a higher/lower age?

Congratulations, welcome to the war.

I thought 21 was the age in America?

Ah, no. 21 is the legal age for drinking. At 18 you can enlist in the military, kill/die for your country, buy cigarettes and get cancer, get a drivers license without parental consent, get a job to pay for the apartment you just rented, get credit cards and go into massive debt, you can even get married to the school whore (male or female) while telling your folks to fuck off, and a whole bunch of other things. You just can't get wasted. Funny how that works.

I know right? You can do everything but get drunk. Weird stuff indeed.

 

[Kitteh]

Hi,
I am german, and as you may know out of your stereotype index, we as people love to drink beer (ok the Polish drink more, but we Germans are insteadbest in Coffee and Tea).

I think the czechs might have germans beat in boozing. doesn't matter, cuz everybody love the bier!

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Technically 18 is when you are considered an adult but it isn't until 21 you can do the more adult action of drinking alcohol.

Also, you can't rent a car until you hit 25. That's a policy of the rental places, though, not a law; it has something to do with minimizing insurance premiums. Some places let you rent younger, but you pay through the nose for it.

OT: It's 18 here, and I don't have a problem with it. I think the drinking age should either be lowered or changes so it's okay at any age so long as the parents provide it under a certain age. That would do wonders for this country's drinking problems.

 

[tthor]

18. Spain.

For everything from going to jail and voting to drinking and driving. Nearly nobody drives till they are in their 20s, which makes it strange when I watch American movies or talk to Americans and see them driving at 16 or so. And yeah, about drinking... people drink whatever their age is, pretty much.

So 18, legally. Except sex. I think it's 14. Or maybe 16. Something like that. Not that anybody cares.

BTW, do you drive since you are 16 because you don't have any other ID? It's pretty weird for spaniards (and many others) that Americans don't have a National ID. Not a passport; that's another thing. So the driving license functions as an ID... is that right-ish?

yup, since most people do have a drivers license, it is used as a main form of ID. Tho i do think it would be much more efficient if we had a National ID, I have actually never heard of that before

 

[DementedSheep]

18 is the age in NZ as well. You can do pretty much everything at 18 including drinking. I?m 19.
I always found it kind of weird that drinking is 18 but sex, driving and firearms is 16. Tho you need a licence for the latter obviously and I?m not sure if you can get and endorsement for anything higher than sporting guns.

 

[Creator002]

In Australia, it's 18 for pretty much everything.
Legal purchase and consumption of alcohol, legal purchase of tobacco products and a probationary license[footnote]Though the laws regarding getting to this stage in Victoria are, in my opinion, bullshit. 120 hours of driving practice on your learner's permit minimum, then there's two stages of having a probationary license. You don't get your full license until 22, at the earliest.[/footnote] are the main big things I can think of.