B078 - Age of Maturity Bill - Second Reading

A

B I L L

T O

Introduces the defined age of maturity for an individual within the United Kingdom with restrictions on the abilities of an individual to do certain actions until they have reached the recognised age of maturity.

BE IT ENACTED by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 - Definitions

(1) Age is defined as the time in which an individual has lived since birth.

(2) Maturity is defined as the ability of an individual to make rational decisions and be able to be afforded substantial responsibilities.

(3) Parental Consent is defined as the explicit permission given by the parents of an individual who is under the age of 18 years old.

2 - Age of Maturity

(1) The age of maturity for the United Kingdom shall be recognised as 18 years old.

(2) Once an individual has reached the age of maturity as stated in 2.1, they shall be recognised as an adult, anyone under the age of 18 years old shall be recognised as a child.

3 - Age Related Restricted Actions

(1) Individuals must be the age of maturity as stated in 2.1 or above that age in order to be able to do the following actions.

(A) Purchase or Smoke Cigarettes, Tobacco or Vapes.

(B) Purchase of Alcohol Products.

(C) Getting Married (without parental consent).

(D) Join the Armed Forces in a combat role.

(E) Adopt a foster child.

(F) Vote in a national election.

(G) Purchase a Lottery Ticket or Scratch Card.

(H) Purchase of an Energy Drink containing more than 80mg of caffeine.

(2) All individuals who are 18 years old or above, and are convicted and sentenced in court, shall be sentenced without courts discriminating by age alone..

(3) Courts should generally consider the mental capacity, general health, experience and prior convictions of all offenders irrespective of age, according to the sentencing councils' guidance, precedent and any other factor deemed relevant by the court.

(4) Businesses trading in the United Kingdom are liable to a fine if they sell energy drinks containing more than 80mg of caffeine to persons under 18 years of age. The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision for enforcement, testing standards, fine amounts, and defences.

4 - Title, Extent, and Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Age of Maturity Act 2026.

(2) This Act shall extend to the whole United Kingdom.

(3) This Act commences once it has been granted Royal Assent.

This Bill was submitted by u/Sir-Iceman, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

---

AMENDMENT 1 - Baron Willem of Colwyn Bay

Amend Section 4(3) to read:

>(3) This Act commences once it has been granted Royal Assent, except for Section 3(4)

>(a) Section 3(4) will commence at a time decided by the Secretary of State by regulation.

AMENDMENT 2 - Baron Willem of Colwyn Bay

After Section 2 (2), add:

>(3) The Secretary of State must commission an independent review every five years on the scientific, social, and economic evidence relating to age‑based thresholds, and lay the findings before Parliament.

AMENDMENT 3 - Baron Willem of Colwyn Bay

Omit Section 3(1)(A) to 3(1)(G) and renumber accordingly.

AMENDMENT 4 - Lord Bridlington

Strike Section 2.

Strike Section 3.1 - 3.3 and renumber.

Reasoning:

Holy moly this bill is a hot mess legislatively. Firstly, the age of adulthood is already defined in UK legislation in the Protection of the Family Law Reform Act 1969 as well as being legislatively cemented in the Children Act 1978, the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The whole of Section 2 is entirely meaningless, and a waste of legislative time.

Secondly, specific parts of the law are also a devolved matter depending on the subject, specifically… Justice, so the entirety of Section 3 cannot be passed, because it doesn’t apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland and for some reason this has put down for the whole United Kingdom. Also basically all of Section 3.1.X are already legislated and determined.

What is the actual point?

AMENDMENT 5 - Lord Bridlington

Amend Section 3.4 to read:

3 - Age Related Restricted Actions

(4) Businesses trading in the United Kingdom are liable to a fine if they sell energy drinks containing more than 80mg of caffeine to persons under 16 years of age. The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision for enforcement, testing standards, fine amounts, and defences.

Reasoning:

The only part of the bill with any actual meaning to it, I don’t agree with setting it to 18, so I propose 16. This is the standard in most shops already, who will refuse to sell to under 16’s. Of course the fact this is already done rather renders it moot, but that is a bit of a running theme at the moment.

---

Peers can debate the amendments by the 10th August at 10pm BST