What you can do at 16, and the things you’re not allowed

Being a teenager is confusing enough – yet it is becoming even more baffling in Wales. From this week it is now illegal for those under 18 to pierce their tongues, nipples and genitals in Wales. It means 16- and 17-year-olds could get to vote in council e

Work full time – YES Once reaching the minimum school-leaving age teenagers are allowed to work up to a maximum of 40 hours a week.

In Wales you can leave school on the last Friday in June, as long as you’ll be 16 by the end of that school year’s summer holidays. Earn the minimum wage – NO You have to be 25 to earn the full level of the minimum wage, which is £7.83 an hour.

Until you’re 18 the maximum you’re entitled to under the law is just £4.20. Claim the dole – No There are some exceptions but the general rule is that there is no Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit for anyone under the age of 18. Donate blood – No While you can register to give blood at the age of 16 you will not be called up to donate until you hit 17.

You can, however, donate bone marrow from the age of 16 as long as you’re in good health and will remain on the register until the age of 60. Vote – Yes (soon at least) Wales plans to bring in voting in council elections for 16- and 17-year-olds and is considered likely to follow that by cutting the age for voting in Assembly elections.

Scotland already has votes for 16year-olds in all Scottish elections, but England is holding out and General Elections remain for over-18s. Be named in court – No In most cases, young defendants under the age of 18 are protected from being named to help their chances of rehabilitation in later years.

In certain circumstances restrictions can also be put in place to stop under-18s being named in magistrates’ court, whether they are victims, witnesses or defendants.

This can be lifted in the event of defendants who are at large or if it is in the public interest to do so.

Teenagers must also wait until they are 18 to be chosen to do jury duty. Drive a tractor – Yes If 17 is too long to wait before getting behind the wheel there is always the option of driving a tractor.

For those growing up in the Welsh countryside you can legally drive a tractor from age 13 to 16 as long as it’s not on the road.

At 16 you can apply for your full category F driving licence, which will let you drive a tractor lighter than 2550kg pulling a trailer less than 2.45m wide.

The only conditions are that the vehicle is not tracked, registered as an “agricultural machine” and used for agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations – and must not be used on “special” road including the motorway.

If tractors aren’t your thing at 16 you can also drive mopeds, mowing changes and motor vehicles with less than 50cc and a maximum speed of 25km/h. Place a bet – No

The only way to get around this rule – which affects bookmakers, casinos and online gambling sites – is to buy a Lottery ticket, play the football pools or find low-stake machines.

Sports betting and going to a bookmakers remain strictly off-limits until the age of 18 – with those caught facing a maximum jail sentence of 52 weeks. Change your name – Yes Legally you must be 16 years old to change your name. To do so you must first sign a deed poll or a legal document promising to give up your old name and use your new one for all purposes.

Once that’s done your new name is accepted by all legal bodies including the DVLA, HM passport office and banks.

Get a tattoo – No (unless you go to France)

We’ve all heard the stories of those spur-of-the-moment tattoos people come to regret.

But even with your parent’s consent getting inked is strictly prohibited for those under 18.

The decision was brought in under the Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969 but this isn’t the case across Europe. In Ireland and parts of Spain teenagers as young as 14 can get their first tattoo with parental consent, rising to age 16 without permission in France. Buy a pet – Yes

You’re free to buy your own furry companion at the age of 16.

No matter your age, the Animal Welfare Act states that all owners must take “reasonable steps” to feed, water and house their pets, as well as protecting them from pain, suffering, injury and disease. Fly a glider – Yes According to the Civil Aviation Authority, you can get a licence to fly a glider or a balloon from the age of 16.

And from the age of 17, you can hold a licence to fly a plane or a helicopter. Smoke cigarettes – No It’s been more than 10 years since the law changed around buying tobacco.

While it used to be 16, you now have to be 18 to smoke a cigarette or e-cigarette.

Recently, though, vape shops have come under fire for selling to under18s in an undercover investigation by The Sun. Get married – Yes For childhood sweethearts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland the first possible chance to tie the knot is at 16 – with a parent’s permission.

In Scotland the age is 16 but with or without consent from an adult.

The same applies to civil partnerships.

In Estonia you can get married as young as 15, while in China a man must be 22 and a woman 20.

Join the army – Yes (with a parent’s permission)

There are more than 100 different jobs in the army and many have different starting ages.

Soldiers for the general army and officers and soldiers for the territorial army can join as young as 15 and seven months. In either case parental permission is needed for anyone younger than 18.

And while you can sign up from the age of 16, no-one under the age of 18 will be sent to “engage in a hostile situation”, including a war zone. Apply for a passport – Yes To apply for an adult passport you must be aged within three weeks of being 16 – but only if you’ve never had a child passport.

To do so the process can take up to six weeks after you apply online or through the post. You can also use a child passport until it expires, even if you’re over 18.