Help For Teens - Connexions County Durham

When you are 13,  you are allowed to:

• get a part time job (with restrictions and your employer needs a work permit for you)

When you are 14 you are allowed to:

• go into a pub but you can't buy or drink alcohol
• you can be convicted of a crime
• you can work part-time with your school's consent
• agree to donate your organs after your death (with your parent/guardian's permission)

When you are 15,  you are allowed to

• see a 15 or PG certificate film  
• consent to medical treatment if you are judged to fully understand what treatment is proposed

When you are 16,  you are allowed to:

• leave school on the last Friday in June
• start working full time if you have officially left school
• get married with one parent's consent
• drive a moped up to 50 cc or invalid carriage
• have heterosexual and homosexual sex if you are BOTH over 16 and BOTH CONSENT
• drink wine/beer/cider with a meal but not in a bar
• must pay a full fare on a train
• join a trade union
• change your name by deed poll
• leave home with parental consent
• in certain circumstances you must pay prescription charges and must pay for dental treatment and sight tests for glasses
• choose your own doctor
• have an abortion
• consent to/refuse medical or dental treatment
• buy premium bonds
• pilot a glider
• apply for a passport
• join armed forces (certain ranks/trades but you can't go into a war zone)
• buy a lottery ticket
• carry a donor card and donate your organs after death (you can do this when you are younger with your parent/guardian's permission)

At 17,  you are allowed to:

• drive cars and motorcycles
• emigrate
• be a street trader
• no longer be subject to a care order
• join the armed forces if you are a girl
• go to war
• become a blood donor
• pilot a plane
• you can be tried before an adult court and sent to prison or fined up to £2,000

At 18,  you are legally classed as an adult and allowed to:

• vote
• buy cigarettes and tobacco
• appear before an adult court
• sue or be sued
• go abroad to sing, play or perform professionally abroad
• serve on a jury
• be represented directly by a solicitor
• get tattooed
• leave home
• marry without parents' consent
• make a will
• be an executor of a will
• cannot be made a ward of court
• see an 18 certificate film
• apply for a mortgage
• own a house and land
• bet
• buy fireworks
• drink alcohol in a pub
• ask to see your birth certificate if you are adopted
• you can open a bank account in your name without a parent or carer's signature

At 21,  you are allowed to:

• drive all large goods and passenger carrying vehicles
• hold a licence to sell alcoholic drinks
• stand for election in a local or parliamentary election
• adopt a child

To find more information about your rights use the links below or speak to your Connexions Personal Adviser (contacts below)

Related Files

At What Age Can I (Printable Full Text)


Internal Links

Contact Personal Adviser Link

National Minimum Wage

Part Time Work



External Links

Disability Rights Commission

Shelter - Know Your Rights

Your Rights

Comment on this article