How Old Do You Have To Be To Buy Condoms?
The age at which one becomes sexually active varies from country to country. Some countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are very strict when it comes to the age of consent. These countries require that anyone under the legal drinking age (usually 18) cannot legally engage in sexual activity. Other countries such as Mexico, Argentina and Brazil allow individuals between the ages of 15 and 19 to have consensual sexual relations with each other.
In some places, there is no law that requires one to be over the age of consent. For example in many parts of Europe, people can marry up until they turn 21 years old. However, in most European countries including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, having premarital sexual relationships before turning 16 years old is illegal.
There are different laws regarding the buying and selling of sexual services. In some countries, prostitution is legal while in others it is not. In the United Kingdom, prostitution is illegal but brothels exist. Many prostitutes work illegally because they receive less money than they would if their jobs were regulated and taxed.
Prostitution itself does not necessarily mean that someone has to be underage to sell sexual favors. It just means that if someone is selling sexual favors, they are not doing it by their free will.
Different parts of the world have different laws when it comes to issues such as marriage, abortion, and sexual consent. These laws can differ from one city or town to the next. Whether these laws are effective in reality is a whole different story. Many teenagers have had sexual relationships before they turn 16 or 18 and many engage in other activities such as prostitution regardless of the law.
In certain areas of the world, the age of consent is either lower or higher than 16 or 18. These ages were set to protect those who may be more susceptible to negative influences and dangers such as drugs, alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases. This does not mean that teenagers cannot engage in these activities but it is strongly recommended that they do not until they reach a later age. For someone below the age of consent, it is illegal for them to engage in sexual activity.
In most places, the law only applies when someone is selling sexual favors or when two individuals do not match the legal age of consent. For example, if two 18 year olds have a sexual relationship, this is completely legal and they will not face any legal repercussions. Also, if an individual is selling sexual favors, it is illegal even if the person they are having said relationship with is of age.
The laws that govern these things can be very different from one country to another. For example, in the United Kingdom, it is illegal for a male to engage in sexual activity with another male. However, there are no such laws for females. In other words, a male cannot have sexual contact with another male but a female can have sexual contact with another female or a male.
The above information is not meant to be an all-encompassing list of age of consent laws in various places around the world. Also, laws can and do change. Before engaging in any sexual activity of any kind, it is best to make sure that you are not breaking any local or international laws.
Age of consent around the world
Alphabetically listed Afghanistan + When a female is married, she is expected to have sexual relationships with her husband even if she is not able. Child marriages are common and there is no set age as to when these can take place. While laws exist that prohibit child marriage, they are not enforced strictly. (Source: Human Rights Watch) Algeria + The legal age of consent is 15 regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
The age of majority is 18. Angola + Female homosexual activity is illegal and can lead to up to 3 years in prison.
Male homosexuality is legal and there are currently no laws prohibiting it. Antigua and Barbuda + There are no laws here that criminalize a consensual sexual relationship between two people. Whether they are married or not is irrelevant. Aruba + The age of consent here is 16, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
It is illegal for an adult to have a sexual relationship with a minor under the age of 16. Australia + When it comes to age of consent in Australia, each state has its own rules. These rules can also differ based on certain factors. For example, in Victoria, a person must be at least 17 years of age before they can legally engage in sexual activity. However, if a person is under the age of 17, they can legally have consensual sexual activity as long as their partner is not more than 2 years older. (Source: Criminal Code Act) The age of consent rises to 18 for persons in positions of authority such as teachers or employers.
