Your rights at different ages

At age 10

• You can have your ears pierced, but your parent may have to be with you.
• You can choose your own religion.
• You can be convicted of a criminal offence.
• If you are a boy, you can be convicted of a sexual offence, including rape.

At 12

• You can play a computer game aimed at people aged 12 and above.
• You can watch a 12 or 12A film.
• You can be remanded into a secure unit for persistent offending.
• You can be sentenced to a secure training centre for persistent offending.
• You can be placed on an electronically monitored curfew while you're awaiting a court decision.

At 13

• You can have a part-time job, with some restrictions.

At 14

• You can enter a pub, but you can't buy or drink alcohol, only soft drinks.
• You can be fined £20 for not fastening your seatbelt while in a moving car.

At 15

• You may be remanded to a remand centre or prison to await trial.
• If you are convicted of a criminal offence you can be fined up to £1,000 and sentenced to detention.
• You can see a 15 category film or rent and buy a 15 category video.

At 16

• You can play a 16 computer game
• You can leave school the last Friday of June of year 11.
• You can work full time if you have left school and have a National Insurance number.
• You can consent to sexual relations.
• You can be married or live together with a parent's permission.
• You can be prosecuted for having sex with someone who is under 16.
• You can apply for your own passport with a parent’s consent.

At 17

• You can hold a driver’s licence and apply for a motorcycle licence.
• You can be interviewed by the police without an appropriate adult being present.
• A care order can no longer be made on you.

At 18

• You are the age of majority (ie you’re an adult!).
• You can have a tattoo or body piercing.
• You can watch an 18 film.
• You can play an 18 computer game.
• National minimum wage entitlement increases.
• You can change your name.
• You can get a cheque card and credit card.
• You can vote and be called for jury service.
• You can buy and drink alcohol in a bar.
• You can get married, enter a civil partnership or live together without parental consent.
• You can stand as an MP or a local Councillor.

At 19

• You can no longer get support to help you get into work or college from Hub Advisors  (unless you have learning difficulties or disabilities).
• You are no longer entitled to free full-time education at school.

At 20

• You are no longer eligible for Care to Learn.
• You are no longer able to access most services for young people unless you have learning difficulties or disabilities.

At 21

• You can drive certain kinds of larger vehicles, like lorries or buses (with the appropriate licence).
• You are now entitled to full national minimum wage.
• You can apply to adopt a child.
• You can get certain types of jobs, e.g. become a driving instructor.
• You can apply for a license to fly commercial transport aeroplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes and airships. 
• You can go into 21+ venues (some pubs, clubs and bars).

At 22

• Support ends for young people who have been in Local Authority Care (Care Leavers) unless they are going into Higher Education.

At 25

• Some benefit entitlements change.
• Support ends for young people who have been in Local Authority care who went on into Higher Education.
• Young people with learning difficulties and disabilities can no longer get support from young people's services.

You might well be asked to prove how old you are for some of these things - the easiest way is to have a Proof of Age Card.