There are many cultural differences between Germany and America, however some very intriguing ones are the different ways young people are treated through laws and age requirements. The ability to do things such as driving, drinking beer and alcohol, smoking, and working full time are all considered "milestones" within a young teens life. I want to explore the differences within Germany and our own country. While there are some similarities between the two, most relevant differences are the drinking age, the driving age, and the marriage age. While German youths are able to partake in these events earlier in their life than we are it is due to other cultural aspects within our societies. 

First let’s take a look at the drinking age. According to our text book, the legal age that Germans may drink is actually spread apart. At age 14 Germans may drink beer and wine in a restaurant with a parent present, at 16 they may do so without their parent and at 18 they are able to consume all alcoholic beverages. This is quite different from the legal age in the United States., which is 21 years. In the U.S we like are portions, well quite large. According to http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=129685 our portions have been growing too. “Hamburgers have expanded by 23 percent; A plate of Mexican food is 27 percent bigger; Soft drinks have increased in size by 52 percent; Snacks, whether they be potato chips, pretzels or crackers, are 60 percent larger”. In my opinion, our drinking age is later than Germany’s because if we were to consume such a large amount of alcohol while still in our teen years of overindulging we would kill ourselves. While in Germany the age of drinking is lower, excess drinking not as common. “German society as a whole doesn't have a positive image of excessive drinking, but in general, awareness of the dangers of excessive consumption is growing," said Gabriele Barsch of the German Center for Addiction Issues.” It is due to these differences in our culture and Germany’s that lead to the different drinking ages.

Next we will compare the driving age in both countries. In America the legal age to drive is 16 with a license. In Germany the legal age is 17. We have here a classic example of Manifest Destiny. The goal of reaching from sea to shining sea still runs within our veins.  The car is not only a way to quickly get from place to place, it represents our freedom. To able to get in a car and just drive is the ultimate freedom that teens search for. Everywhere in the U.S.A is connected by and easily accessible by car. This is quite different from Germany and Europe in general. The towns in Germany are much closer together and many people take public transportation such as buses. The German teen is not as concerned with driving as an American teen would be. So as there is a greater demand for driving in America, the age is lower.

Marriage is the ultimate commitment of a person’s love for another. While this love is not generally found in early years for many, there are laws that make marriage legal for teens at a certain age. In Germany the legal age is 16, but you must have parental consent and the person you marry must be over the age of 18. So, at least one person within the marriage is considered an adult. In the United States the age is 18, unless you have parental consent or are approved by a court.  The age being lower in Germany may be due to the fact that many Germans have already started apprenticeships in their future career and are establishing themselves. Teens in America still are in high school. And so the marriage age being 18 is fair.

Other Sources: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html#.Ul7io1Cko8Q

http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/teen_marriage_laws/