age of consent

   The age of consent has been discussed from Plato, through Locke and into contemporary public policy. It covers a variety of different situations, from smoking, taking alcohol and watching X-rated movies to legal permission to engage in various forms of sexual intercourse. In Britain, the age of consent for smoking is sixteen years, and for taking alcohol is eighteen years. Ages of criminal responsibility vary widely according to the offence and are currently under review. Similarly, ages of civil contractual ability vary, but are generally set at sixteen or eighteen years. Until 1994, the age of consent between gay men was twenty-one years of age, after which it was lowered to eighteen. Between heterosexuals, the age of consent is sixteen years.

   This anomaly was challenged at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In 1997, the incoming Labour government dropped the UK defence and sought an out of court settlement in which it would offer a free vote on the issue in the House of Commons. Subject to Parliamentary time, it is almost certain that the age of consent for same-sex relations will be reduced to sixteen (approved by the Commons vote in June 1998). At the same time, the government expressed a determination to increase the age of consent to smoking to eighteen. The apparent anomaly is explained by reducing gender inequality on the one hand and discouraging smoking, regardless of gender, on the other.

   See also: armed forces and discrimination; family planning; gay liberation

   PAUL BARRY CLARKE

   SVANBORG SIGMARSDOTTIR