Let’s explore America vs. England and the qualifying ages for major life moments!

How old do you need to be before you can drive on both sides of the pond?  What age is it legal to vote or to serve in the military?  What is the qualifying age to drink alcohol in America vs. England?  To retire, work, to marry?  Let’s explore these different life moments in America vs. England .

Let’s look at voting first!

The legal age to vote in England is 18 and is to vote in UK parliamentary elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. The same holds true in America.  The right to vote in national, state, and local elections to U.S. citizens is 18 years and older.

How old to serve in the military?

The age limit to serve in America in any of the 4 branches (Army, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard) is 17.   In England, you only need to be 16 years old to join the Army or Royal Navy!  You can start your application when you’re 15 years and 7 months, but you won’t be able to go to the assessment center until you’re at least 15 years and 9 months old.  If you’re under 18, you’ll need parental consent to join in England.   However, in England, you must be 18 years old to join the RAF (Royal Air Force) or the Royal Marines!

Also in England, you can join the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) when you’re 18 years old.  You must also be under 55 years old (inshore lifeboat crew) or 65 (all-weather lifeboat crew) complete a health assessment, including an eyesight test, and be physically fit!  (More on the RNLI in a future post!)

And what about learning to drive?  Let’s explore those qualifying ages in America vs. England ~

In England, to start learning to drive you need to be at least 17 years old.  17 is the minimum age that you can legally drive a car on public roads in the UK.  You can apply for your provisional (Learners Permit) license three months before your 17th birthday and if you’re disabled and receiving mobility allowance you can start at the age of 16.

Now in America, the legal age to drive a car in the United States is 16. Getting a driver’s license on the day you turn 16 has long been a major life event for many young people in America!!

Further, the youngest age in any state that a driver can obtain a learner’s permit (provisional license) is 14 years old.  Restricted licenses can be obtained anywhere from 14.5 years to 17 years old.   You can obtain a learner’s permit in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North and South Dakota at just 14 years old!   In Texas, if you are under 18 years of age, one of the first requirements is completion of a driver education course, you can begin the classroom phase of a driver education course at 14 years of age, but you cannot apply for a learner permit until you are at least 15 years of age.

Care for a pint or a beer?   Explore the legal drinking ages in America vs. England!

England ~

The legal drinking age in England is 18.  If you’re under 18, it’s against the law for someone to sell you alcohol. to buy or try to buy alcohol.  However, it’s not illegal for someone between the ages of five and 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises!  If you’re an American visiting or relocating to England, the same legal drinking age of 18 applies to you!

America ~

In America, Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify the legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages. The MLDA in the United States is 21 years of age!   In 29 states, someone under 21 may drink with their parent’s permission if it’s in a private residence or on private property. Furthermore, six states allow someone under 21 to drink on private property without their parent’s consent. Eight states allow underage people to drink with a parent’s consent in public restaurants or bars.

Retirement?

Legal work age?

When can you marry?