Age of consent, voting, betting,smoking and games

[McHappyPants2012]

To me it seems daft that a 16 year old can have sex resulting a baby and to be able to play the lotto.

But can not buy cigerettes, alcohol, vote, bet and some games.

Iabu to think every thing so be 18

DD1 (14) thinks being able to have a baby two years before you can drink is totally mad.

Socknick I love/loved smoking. I have quit now but when I ever have a baby free night I always light up with a glass of wine if I go to the pub.
The first time I had sex still remains one of the fondest experiences of my life. I loved my then BF and we still speak to this day.

I would set more at 18.

It won't stop many from carrying out certain behaviours before the law permits it, but would be more logical and might help put back the age of first intercourse a bit. As all the support services are available in confidence from Fraser competence onwards, not legal age, it would make no difference whatsoever in practical terms, but would be a signal of societal attitude.

I don't know why people keep mentioning "when you can legally have a baby". There are no laws about when you can have a baby, its not illegal to have one under 16.
It's bloody stupid, but its not illegal.

As all the support services are available in confidence from Fraser competence onwards, not legal age it would make no difference whatsoever in practical terms

It does, because the welfare benefit and housing rules follow the law, which shapes the guidelines set. Make 18 the legal age to have sex and all babies born to 16/17 year olds will have to go onto a SS plan.

The law shouldn't be able to leglislate against natural behaviour, such as having sex at 16. We should educate how to do it without unwanted risk.

Drinking is a choice, not a natural biological urge, so is different.

If the age limit was highered then the crossover in Young Offenders Institute's etc would have to change, it isn't as simple as it seems, to define when adulthood happens.

If there was no minimum age for having sex, paedophiles would effectively be given free reign to groom youngsters, and so form bonds that could lead to consensual sex with, say, 11 or 12 year olds, or younger.

There has to be an age of consent, IMO.

Is there a min age for IVF/going to a sperm bank? I mean can someone do that on their 16th birthday?