What is so special about turning 21?

Answer 1

== == * Twenty-one is the legal drinking age.

* It was, and is still in some parts of the world, the age of majority. In the British Isles it was traditional to sing, over the cake, "He/she's got the key of the door, never been twenty-one before!" In other words, at 21 you could vote, marry without parental permission, drink at the pub, and have the right to let yourself into your own house.

Interestingly, under-21's were (probably still are, in some areas) still able to join or be conscripted into military service, and also be liable for debts.

In many places the age for all these privileges is eighteen.