[NYFriend]

The ages we end up with for doing things regulated by law are pretty whacky. In NY, you can't consent to anything except sex or an abortion at 17. (17 is the legal age of consent for sex, abortions are another story; I think planned parenthood, et. al, can also arrainge for prescription contraceptives for kinds under 18, but I'm not sure). For anything else you need to be 18, except to buy alcohol or a handgun (21). You can't hold ceertain proffessional licenses (i.e. Private Investigator) until you're 23. Go figure.

[SheLion]

The ages we end up with for doing things regulated by law are pretty whacky.

I think the United States, as a whole, needs to decide when a person becomes a legal adult. If they want to prohibit buying cigarettes until the age of 21, then that should be the age when a person becomes a legal adult. Until then, they are still children.

I don't think many would agree with this law. I certainly don't, but the U.S. needs to decide when the legal age of consent will be. This is just too wishy washy.