17-07-2025
Join the army, work full-time … and now vote: what 16-year-olds can do in the UK
Turning 16 opens up a whole suite of exciting new freedoms. Now, those celebrating their baby steps into adulthood in the UK have another thrilling task for their to-do lists: heading to the voting booth.
Thursday marked one of the largest changes to the country's democratic system in recent times after Labour announced the voting age would be lowered to 16 before the next general election.
Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood and Senedd elections, as well as local council elections, but the move means 16-year-olds will have a say over who becomes prime minister for the first time.
For some, the change has been a long time coming, especially considering what 16-year-olds can already legally do:
Those aged 16 and 17 can join the British army as a junior soldier, where they will learn survival skills including handling and firing weapons. They earn above minimum wage for their age group, with monthly pay starting between £1,500 and £1,800. Accommodation and other bills are paid for.
For some people, ringing in the 16th year is accompanied with bottles of suspiciously cheap booze and a raging house party. However, for those who want to stay out of trouble but still fancy a tipple, a pub under the watchful eye of an adult may be the best setup.
It is against the law to buy alcohol or drink it in licensed premises alone but, if you are 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal. The drink must be bought by someone over 18. Although unable to buy it, 16- and 17-year-olds can legally serve alcohol in a restaurant.
The late teens are often a time when youngsters make impulsive decisions they later regret. Ill-fated tattoos, questionable fashion choices and horrible music tastes all fit the bill, but some changes are harder to reverse.
Sixteen-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can legally change their names. All it takes is a dare gone wrong or a deluded belief that a nickname will still sound cool at 50 to take the plunge. Youngsters in Scotland have to wait until they turn 18 for the privilege.
The days of stretching out lunch money or hoarding birthday cash to buy a pair of new trainers are gone. At 16 you can work most full-time jobs. You can also open a bank account on your own, meaning you can keep your parents' noses out of your financial affairs.
Don't disregard their advice altogether, however. They're right sometimes.
