I just turned 18

Factual Questions
1

What rights/privileges/abilities did I earn?

-I can buy cigarettes now, if I wanted to
-I can buy lottery tickets now, if I wanted to
-I can buy adult magazines and videos now
-I can apply for endless amounts of credit
-I could get married, if I wasn’t gay and in Virginia
-I can get tattooed or pierced anywhere I want without parental consent, if I wanted to

What else can I do?

2

  • Not everywhere, keep that in mind, you don’t get to stop paying attention to state laws on age restrictions on products until you get 21. Of course this isn’t a big deal if you don’t travel much, this applies to pornography and the like as well, some states have the age as 19 IIRC. (Could very well be wrong)

  • Well, you could get married before, just not without parental consent in most places AFAIK.

  • I’m sort of assuming you live in the US here, but you know get the privilege of being able to be called up for draft. You also need to remember to fill out a Selective Services form, or you can get in trouble. (Again, US central, if you aren’t from the US then correct me and ignore anything that isn’t pertinent).

  • You can be tried as an adult for any crimes you commit, and everything now goes on your permanent record. Also your name can be released in the paper if you commit a crime.

  • You can now make legally binding contracts as I understand it.

  • The 17 old it was okay to sleep with, may now be jailbait for you.
    Personally I found that turning 18 didn’t stand up to the hype, oh to be 16 again.

3

Be eligible for the draft.
Insure yourself (without the aid of a parent).
Own your own car.

4

You know, it just dawned on me that I just included that big long disclaimer and you mentioned that you live in Virginia. :smack:

I’ve really got to learn to pay more attention.

5

hmm…

-Voting ability
-Can go to most dance/weekend clubs now

6

Welcome to adultery, Civil Defense. Er, adulthood I mean.

I notice your signature is a bit long. We have a limit of four lines, including blank spaces. Please shorten yours to conform to the limit.

bibliophage
moderator GQ

7

If you move to Quebec, you can drink legally…

8

You can now not date many 15 and 16 year old girls whose parents would have given you a pass at 17.

9

Draft. Don’t forget to sign up for Selective Service. Don’t blow it off, esp. if you want student loans.

I was going to say strip clubs, but I don’t know if the gay equivellents are over 18 only.