Why Eighteen?

Things just settled on that number over time.

The whole concept of childhood’s changed a lot over the past two hundred years.

In the 19th and early twentieth century, children were expected to work.

In 1918 in the UK, the school leaving age was raised from 12 to 14.

My dad started working at the age of 14.

In 1944, it was raised to 15 and in 1972, it was raised again, to 16.

Now, they've raised it to 18.

The age 18 didn’t hold much sway back in the day. Coming of age was usually 21, or was in the UK.

Until 1923, there was no age limit to the purchase of alcohol, that was put at 18 in that year,

18′s a grey area. Some things, you can do when you’re 16, like join the army. (although, I think you need parental consent until 18). In the USA, you still can’t drink until you’re 21 in many states.

In the UK, yes, buying alcohol it’s 18, but having it bought for you? 16.

And that’s only in pubs with the stipulation it has to be part of a meal. You’re allowed to drink in the privacy of your own home at the age of five if parents permit it.

18 is also the voting age in most (but I bet not all) countries, but that wasn’t always the case. Before WWI, it was 23. It didn’t get down to 18 until 1970 in both the USA and UK. It was 21 before then.

Even that can vary a little. 16-year-olds got the chance to vote in the Scottish referendum for example. They just couldn’t vote in general elections.