Every teenager dreams of extravagant 16th birthday parties, where they ask for new cars that they cannot yet drive and alcohol that they aren’t yet allowed to drink. But can they really be blamed for this? Compared to the perks of turning 18, 16 year olds are denied more and more responsibilities.

The fact, then, that the Scottish government has made plans to allow 16 year olds to vote in the next year’s independence referendum can be seen as a wasted move. (For more information, visit http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21742512). This has also raised the argument as to whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 in the UK.

 If 16 year olds are not allowed to get involved with adult things such as driving, or legally buying alcohol, yet they can join the army or get married, there has been a blurring of responsibility. Because of this, will 16 year olds have any idea what is right for the country? Will they be able to make their own decisions or just follow in the footsteps of parents?

Also, despite 16 year olds being able to live on their own, it is not that simple as they are not entitled to the same benefits as older generations. Similarly, leaving school at 16 is becoming harder as teenagers are expected to stay in education until 18.

These complicated policies seem a frantic way of maintaining the protection of young people, as in earlier years the norm was that children could leave the home at fifteen and they were getting married and having children earlier.

So should children be allowed to lead independent lives at 16? It is a complicated year with certain rights given that are unclear. Some younger teenagers do indeed prove that they are capable of speaking their own minds and leading their own lives, for example those who search for part time jobs whilst at secondary school and college. It is also arguable that adults are no better with the policies they turn to crises, (but that is another story entirely).

However there is of course evidence to suggest that they know little about political engagement. For example the youths that participated in the London riots were sometimes seen to be ‘just following the crowd’ or ‘looking for something to do’. After a while not all were aware of the fatal shooting which originally caused them. The sad fact that a bag of Tesco Value rice was stolen proves that some of these teenagers were just doing it for thrills. (http://brit-asian.com/2011/09/08/flicks-london-riot-looters-steal-basmati-rice/)

So how sweet is being 16? You cannot quite drive a car, you cannot quite drink legally and you still need parental consent to move out. Freedom seems to far away, so where is political engagement when you are still finding your feet?