Legal Ages in Costa Rica
Many people, especially younger visitors to Costa Rica wonder what the legal age is for drinking alcohol, buying cigarettes, etc.
Here's a short list of the "Legal Ages" here in Costa Rica:
- Legal age to rent a car = 25
- Legal age to vote = 18
- Legal age to purchase or consume alcohol = 18
- Legal age to purchase or consume cigarettes = 18
- Legal age to obtain a drivers license & drive = 18
- maturing past 18 is not required, adolescent driving is the norm in Costa Rica ;o)
- Legal age of consent with another adult = 18
- Legal age to join the military = none
- Costa Rica has no military!
- Legal age to enter into a legal contract = 18
- Legal age to view Rated "R" movie = 18
- Legal age to obtain credit (ie: consumer purchase on credit) = 16
- Legal age to scan groceries = 16
- Must be 18 to scan a customer's purchase of alcohol
- Legal age to give blood = 16
- Legal age to marry without permission = 16
- Legal age to marry with parental permission = 15
- Legal age to view Rated "PG-13" movie =15
- Legal age for employment = 15 (restrictions on types, hours per day/week, etc.)
- Compulsory age of education = 15
- Legal age of consent between minors = 15
- Legal age to be dispensed birth control pills = 14
- Legal age to view Rated "PG" movie = 12
- Legal age to view nudity & "X" rated television = no minimum age
- Legal age to view Rated "G" movie = no minimum age
- Legal age to pick coffee = no minimum age (not verified)
This may seem silly, but as the father of a 10 year old boy the most frustrating part about the above list is our inability to go see movies together. In the U.S. we really enjoyed going to the movies and I as his father could determine which movies were appropriate - regardless of the movie rating 'recommendation'. In Costa Rica the movie rating system strictly prohibits viewing based on age. The fact that my son is small for his age doesn't help.
Unfortunately most comedies and action movies my son and I enjoy restrict minors below the age of 15 - this despite nudity and "X" rated programming being a regular part of Costa Rica basic cable. I have tried multiple times to get my son into movies I felt were more than adequate for his maturity level like an Adam Sandler film - without much success. The exception being that last Batman movie ... I refused to take "no" for an answer and the 18 year old looking multiplex movie manager finally put my son in the theater before I went completely 'Joker' on his a$$.
There I vented. I feel so much better! ;o)
¡Pura Película!
Categories: Vacation in Costa Rica, Schools in Costa Rica, Working in Costa Rica, Tourism in Costa Rica, Moving To Costa Rica, Living in Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica, Laws in Costa Rica, Travel to Costa Rica, Hiring Employees in Costa Rica, Kids in Costa Rica, Study Abroad in Costa Rica
HI,
I WAS JUST IN C.R. AND EVERY PROSTITUTE NO MATTER HOW YOUNG/OLD DRINK WHISKEY. SOME OF THESE WOMEN ARE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL AND ARE OF A YOUNG 20'S AGE. I FIND IT STRANGE THEY ALL ORDER THE SAME DRINK.
ANYONE KNOW WHY? I NEVER SEE WOMEN DRINK WHISKEY?
******* NO SMART *** ANSWERS PLEASE.
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Mr. Craig,
I'm not a whiskey drinker myself and I totaly agree that women in their young twenties are generally not either. Any time I've witnessed a woman putting down whiskey usually resulted in short-term fun and projectile vomiting.
The President of Costa Rica keeps saying Costa Rica is not at the same risk as many, many other countries to the current world-wide economic problems. I now understand what President Arias knows that I had not been aware of ... that the plane loads of
In other words, me thinks you were buying over-priced carmel colored water for those that found you so interesting while your wallet was full.
On behalf of the economy of Costa Rica, I would like to personally Thank You for bringing and leaving your green-backs here for the benefit of all.
¡Pura Economía!
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