Youths in Germany vs US

          The United States and Germany have both similarities and differences between laws concerning age requirements for teenagers.  These range through a variety of topics, such as drinking age and when someone is eligible for a drivers licence. People could argue the pro's and con's of each system, and living in the US, I tend to feel satisfied with many of the laws and requirements we have in place.  However, there are a few differences in Germany that I feel have positive impacts on it's teenage population.  Overall, I feel that the system in Germany places more responsibility on it's teen's than in the US.
          First, one of the most notable differences in policies between the US and Germany is the drinking laws.  Germany's rules on this are much more liberal than in the US.  For example, in the US drinking of any kind is not legal until the age of 21, period.  While in Germany, teen's can drink beer and wine by the time they are 13, with a parent's permission.  By 16, they can drink beer and wine on their own and by 18 they can drink any alcoholic beverage without parental permission.  Although the drinking age in the United States is 21, many teens ignore this a take part in underage drinking.  This can lead to more troubles with the law compared to German teens..
          Another difference lies in the minimum ages for driving.  In the United States teen's can obtain their permit, which allows them to drive with a parent, at the age of 15.  By the age of 16 a teen can obtain their drivers licence and be allowed to drive by themselves with no supervision.  This is different in Germany, where a person can not get a drivers licence until they are 17.  In addition to that, those who try to get a drivers licence face many more requirements than US drivers, such as the ability to perform basic first aid in the case of an accident.  However, this difference is not as noticeable in Germany because not as many people drive in the first place.
          The age at which someone can get married is also something that differs between the United States and Germany.  In Germany, you can get married at age 16.  But, this law gets strange because even though you can get married at 16 your partner must be over 18 years old.  For the most part, the unanimous age for marriage in the US  is 18, but there is some variation between states which may allow for someone to get married to someone when they both are 16, or on the same note not be allowed to marry until they are 21.
          Another difference is the labor laws in the United States in Germany.  In Germany, a 13 year old can have a part-time summer job with their parents permission, while a 14 year old American teen can work a part-time job with a school issued work permit.  By the time they are 15, German teens can have a full-time summer job with their parents permission and only be able to work from 8am to 5pm.  This shows that kids in the US are more restricted when it comes to working, but the benefit is that they are allowed to spend more time focusing on school.
          In addition, the age regarding attendance in places like nightclubs, disco's, and bars is different in the US and Germany.  Obviously, due to the lowered drinking age teen's in Germany can go to bars and some nightclubs by themselves when they are as young as 16.  The limitations come through when they can go to these establishments.  For example, a 16 year old can go to a club but only stay there until midnight, while an 18 year old can go whenever they want.  This is similar in the US because many nightclubs are open to those 18 and up, and they can also stay indefinitely, but an equal number of bars and nightclubs are reserved for those who are 21 and over.
          One of the last differences between the US and Germany is the age at which a person can join the military.  In Germany, someone can join the military at 17.  This is the same in the US except that a parent must sign permission.  If someone wants to join the military in the US when they are 18 or older they can do so on their own.
       In conclusion, the age requirements in Germany vs the United States share many similarities as well as many differences.  In Germany it seems as though teens are given a bit more freedom and responsibility for certain things than teens in the US, and they tend to be more prepared for adulthood in general.  The flip side is that exposure to some of those things a younger age might be harmful, such as the ability to work longer hours at a younger age and the lowered drinking laws.  Many would argue that the American trend of sheltering teens is more beneficial.  Overall, I think that Germany's laws better prepare teens for the transition into adulthood but that those laws create more opportunities for problems.

Sources:

1. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html#.Ul9ROVA3u8A
2. http://germany.angloinfo.com/family/teenagers/youth-employment/
3. http://www.2pass.co.uk/ages.htm#.Ul9RxVA3u8A