<P> Things that persons under 18 are prohibited from doing include sitting on a jury, voting, standing as a candidate, buying or renting films with an 18 certificate or R18 certificate or seeing them in a cinema, being depicted in pornographic materials, suing without a litigant friend, being civilly liable, accessing adoption records and purchasing alcohol, tobacco products, knives and fireworks . The rules on minimum age for sale of these products are frequently broken so in practice drinking and smoking takes place before the age of majority; however many UK shops are tightening restrictions on them by asking for identifying documentation from potentially underage customers . </P> <P> Driving certain large vehicles, acting as personal license holder for licensed premises, and adopting a child are only permitted after the age of 21 . The minimum age to drive a HGV1 vehicle was reduced to 18 . However, certain vehicles, e.g., steamrollers, require that someone be 21 years of age to obtain an operating license . </P> <P> In the United States as of 1995, minor is generally legally defined as a person under the age of 18 . Although in the context of alcohol or gambling laws, people under the age of 21 may also sometimes be referred to as "minors". However, not all minors are considered "juveniles" in terms of criminal responsibility . As is frequently the case in the United States, the laws vary widely by state . </P> <P> Under this distinction, those considered juveniles are usually (but not always) tried in juvenile court, and they may be afforded other special protections . For example, in some states a parent or guardian must be present during police questioning, or their names may be kept confidential when they are accused of a crime . For many crimes (especially more violent crimes), the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult is variable below the age of 18 or (less often) below 16 . For example, in Kentucky, the lowest age a juvenile may be tried as an adult, no matter how heinous the crime, is 14 . </P>

If you are 17 are you a minor