Children from the Age of 5
- Must either attend school or get schooling through home education.
- Can watch a film rated as U or PG at a cinema if accompanied by an adult. The British Board of Film Classification issues film ratings for children.
- Can have a bank account held in their own name (or building society).
Children from the Age of 7
- Are allowed to withdraw money from a Post Office or savings account.
Children from the Age of 10
- May get held criminally responsible if they get caught breaking the law or carrying out criminal activities.
Youngsters from the Age of 12
- Can watch a film at a cinema ‘unaccompanied’ if the British Board of Film Classification certified the movie as a 12A.
Teenagers from the Age of 13
- Can start working (providing a local by-law allows it). Even so, child employing laws state that the work can only be for a restricted number of hours.
Teenagers from the Age of 14
- Become responsible for wearing their own seatbelt.
- Are allowed to ride an electrically assisted pedal cycle.
- Can get a job if they are working within the restricted amount of hours.
Teenagers from the Age of 15
- Can see a film at a cinema if certified by the British Board of Film Classification as a 15 rating.
Young Adults from the Age of 16 Can…
- Finish school (providing they do so after the official school leaving date).
- Get a driving licence to ride a moped on public roads.
- Obtain a provisional category B entitlement on a driving licence (if receiving the Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate).
- Buy and keep pet animals.
- Drink beer, cider, or wine with a meal in a restaurant (a person over 18 years old must accompany them).
- Choose their own doctor.
- Get married if they have the consent of one parent.
- Change their name (e.g. name change by deed poll).
- Participate sexual activities.
- Play the National Lottery or sell National Lottery tickets.
- Claim social security benefits.
- Open a Cash ISA or buy Premium Bonds and hold them in their own name.
- Work on a full time basis.
- Sell scrap metal.
- Join a Trade Union.
- Join the armed forces for a career (with parental consent). But, 16 year olds are not permitted to fight in a war zone.
- Make a ‘privileged will‘ (if a serving member of the Armed Forces).
Young Adults from the Age of 17 Can…
- Obtain a licence to drive vehicles (excludes certain heavy goods vehicles).
- Get sent to prison.
- Be a street trader.
- Donate blood and plasma.
Adults from the Age of 18 Years Old Can…
- Buy alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, a lighter refill.
- Drink alcohol in a pub.
- Obtain a licence permit to sell alcohol.
- Buy fireworks.
- Buy an air rifle.
- Gamble money by placing a bet.
- Get married without the consent of their parents.
- Get a tattoo.
- Leave home without the consent of the parents or a guardian.
- Appear before an adult court.
- Sit on a jury.
- Vote or stand as a candidate in an election.
- Sue someone or get sued by another person or organisation.
- Watch a film at a cinema if the British Board of Film Classification of the movie is an 18.
- Hold a mortgage or buy land or property.
- Go abroad to perform professionally.
- Go to war.
- Make a Last Will and Testament or act as an executor of a will.
Adults from the Age of 21 Years Old Can…
- Adopt a child.
- Drive any mechanically propelled vehicle (providing they pass all relevant tests).
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Answers to Police Questions about Age Restrictions in the United Kingdom