When do you officially become an adult ?

[Dance Demon]

In Scotland..(think it may be slightly different in england & Wales) a person can legally get married, without having to get the consent of Parents or guardians. They can have children. They can go out to work full time, and have National insurance, and income tax deducted from their wage. They can own or rent their own home.
However........although they can actually legally have sex, they cannot legally buy pornography until they are 18.....so they can do it, but not look at the pictures..
............ Although, if they are in employment and contributing financially to the state coffers, they cannot vote in an election....so have no say in how their contributions are spent or in electing the people who will eventually spend those contributions.....

So ..when exactly does someone become an adult?.. There seems to be a fair amount of ambiguity about this dont you think.....

[under par]

In Scotland..(think it may be slightly different in england & Wales) a person can legally get married, without having to get the consent of Parents or guardians. They can have children. They can go out to work full time, and have National insurance, and income tax deducted from their wage. They can own or rent their own home.
However........although they can actually legally have sex, they cannot legally buy pornography until they are 18.....so they can do it, but not look at the pictures..
............ Although, if they are in employment and contributing financially to the state coffers, they cannot vote in an election....so have no say in how their contributions are spent or in electing the people who will eventually spend those contributions.....

So ..when exactly does someone become an adult?.. There seems to be a fair amount of ambiguity about this dont you think.....

It is 16, 17 or 18, dependant upon which piece of legislation.

In the eyes of the law(E&W) you do not need an appropriate adult when under arrest at aged 17 but if you get charged with an offence you go to a youth court.
You get an adult caution only after your 18th birthday.
Aged 16 you can smoke aged 15 you cannot legally and police can sieze your cigs.
You cannot purchase alcohol until after 18th birthday (although there are 1 or 2 exceptions to the archaic licencing Laws)

You can leave school and home when 16 or over.

it is a totally confusing situation and there are lots more anomalies in the legislation which was put together by doddery old MPs.

Most MPs being lawyers or barristers themselves have a vested interest in the laws being unclear and unambiguous as it gives them plenty of future work when they leave parliament.

[Andy McGregor]

Aged 16 you can smoke aged 15 you cannot legally and police can sieze your cigs.

I suppose it's cheaper than buying them - and you're saving the life of a young person. What sacrifices our boys in blue make for the youth of today

[under par]

I suppose it's cheaper than buying them - and you're saving the life of a young person. What sacrifices our boys in blue make for the youth of today

nah we give to prisoners shortening their life of crime....result

[baldrick]

Dont' know about being an adult, but intend to give being grown up a try one day before getting pension.

[Rhythm King]

My sister (older than me, arf arf!) calls me a "kidult", because in spite of my advancing years I don't really do grown-up in my social life. I sometimes think I have more in common with some of my friends' teenage kids than I do with them nowadays. I think I'm living life backwards.

[Dreadful Scathe]

I think I'm living life backwards.

Or maybe you're just a little backward ?

<hr>
Adult : One who has attained maturity or legal age.

Going by the dictionary definition it is quite clear that, although some people in their 20s are 'legal age' for everything, they are not 'adult' in the maturity sense. Likewise Ive met 12 year olds with more maturity than many 'adults' I've met. I suppose maturity depends on your upbringing and wether you have a sheltered life or if you are actually given any responsability. I reckon I matured at about 27

[under par]

Or maybe you're just a little backward ?

<hr>
Adult : One who has attained maturity or legal age.

Going by the dictionary definition it is quite clear that, although some people in their 20s are 'legal age' for everything, they are not 'adult' in the maturity sense. Likewise Ive met 12 year olds with more maturity than many 'adults' I've met. I suppose maturity depends on your upbringing and wether you have a sheltered life or if you are actually given any responsability. I reckon I matured at about 27

I'm just thinking about maturing aged........eh..................41.