There are a good amount of differences between the cultures of the U.S.A., and Germany, but some of the most important, are the ages at which the youth can do certain activities. Some of the most important of these are the age where one is allowed to drive, drink alcohol, work, smoke, and marry. These are governed by the law, but the differences are cultural.

                The age at which one may obtain a drivers license in the United States, is 16, but in Germany it is 17. This isn’t much of a difference, but it is still important. This difference for this may be due to the difference in public transportation, whereas Germany and Europe have a great public transportation system, the United States’ is horrible. There is a great deal less driving in Germany, because the country is much smaller and they have good public transportation. In the United States, everything is spaced out, and the public transportation is nowhere near Germanys.

                The drinking age is a greater difference than that of driving. The age where you are allowed to drink in the US is 21, and in Germany it is 14 with parents’ consent, 16 without, and 18 for hard liquor. The difference lies in the social acceptance of alcohol in the culture. The German people don’t look upon it as badly as the American people do. The health effects are not as big of a role as the political aspect is. The US government wanted to lower the amount of drunk driving accidents, so they increased the age of drinking. The German people trust the youth more than the people do.

                The next major cultural difference, is the age at which marriage is allowed. The age in Germany, is 16, but that is only if there is parental consent and the other partner is over 18. The age in the United States, is 18. There isn’t much of a difference, and there is no significant cultural influence. The age of marriage isn’t very important, but it is a difference nonetheless.

                These are only a few of the differences between these two cultures. The diversity of the world’s cultures are immense, and the cultures of the US and Germany have similarities as well, but that is for another time.