"18 and over, 21 in some states."

[hanshannu2]

"18 and over, 21 in some states."

Hi, I just turned 18 and was wondering if anyone knew which states you must be 21 in to view adult content?

 

[Violator79]

View adult content in person or on the internet? My state, Pennsylvania, you can be 18 to go into strip bars but 21 to go into an adult video store. On the internet, some sites you have to be 18 but some you have to be 21.

 

[BlueBalls]

In Purgatory, you must be 21 or over. If you are under the age in puts your chanced of getting into Heaven in serious doubt.

 

[dave_rhino]

My state, Pennsylvania, you can be 18 to go into strip bars but 21 to go into an adult video store.

That makes no sense at all!

 

[Fresno]

I know in California it's 18

 

[shayd]

I don't think there are any states where it is 21, because I believe the national age is 18, however I believe there are smaller cities particularly in the south where 21 is the age.

 

[Violator79]

That makes no sense at all!

Tell me about it. When I was 18 I went into a strip bar with no problems, but when I wanted to go into an adult video store, the sign said "you must be 21." This state has a lot of fucked up laws.

 

[BlueBalls]

Tell me about it. When I was 18 I went into a strip bar with no problems, but when I wanted to go into an adult video store, the sign said "you must be 21." This state has a lot of fucked up laws.

So when you was 18 you could have some woman waving here pussy in your face so that you can almost smell it but you cant buy a DVD which doesnt involve you at all. That like not being able to drink until your 21 but can buy a gun at 18. Crazy.

 

[Violator79]

So when you was 18 you could have some woman waving here pussy in your face so that you can almost smell it but you cant buy a DVD which doesnt involve you at all. That like not being able to drink until your 21 but can buy a gun at 18. Crazy.

Exactly right. 18 year olds can have a woman grinding their pussy in their face but can't buy an adult dvd.

 

[Sherlock_Holmes]

I never knew it was 21 in some places.

 

[jakeri]

at finland the age was 21 untill year 1980 (or 79) and after that it's been 18.

 

[jakeri]

in finland age was 21 but it chaged to 18 at year 1980 or something only thing that 21 old can do here thet 18 old cant is buy over 21% alchohol like vodka, but 18old can bring it from estland for example fully legally. Oh and some restaurant's have 21 age limit too but not strip bars (though i live in 3rd biggest city here and i think there's only one strip bar here) but i can go to shop and buy what i want no problem.

but there are still some countrys in europe that have the 21 adult age limit

 

[TheAdmiral]

I think Indiana is 21 for both

 

[No_Man]

I did a bunch of research on this last night. I've wondered about it too. Here's what I came up with:

The U.S. federal statute on the distribution of obscene material over the internet gives 18 as the minimum age, which means that no state or municipality can allow anything less than that. However, they can require more. Do they? No. I've checked every single state and they all list 18 as the minimum age.

However, a couple states do it a little oddly, and I think this is where the "or 21" comes from. The states where this might be an issue are Alabama, Nebraska, and Mississippi. All three of these states define their "age of majority" (aka, the age at which you are no longer considered a minor) as something older than 18. In Alabama and Nebraska, its 19. In Mississippi, its 21.

All three of these states specifically list in their obscenity statutes that you cannot distribute obscene material to anyone under the age of 18. However, if a municipality chose to piggyback the "definition of terms" in their local ordinances off of the state code (which many do) and then chose to write their own local obscenity law (which many do), they might end up writing it as "you cannot distribute obscene material to a minor." In which case they would have unwittingly written a local ordinance that had a higher age than the state statute.

And, of course, there's always the possibility of municipalities who choose to raise the bar higher than the state code anyway. However, I've checked around and haven't been able to find a single one that intentionally does so. This is mainly because most municipalities borrow most of their language from the state code or from other larger municipalities so that they don't end up accidentally writing something that is unconstitutional (and its just easier that way).

If you're concerned about your specific municipality, you can try MuniCode. They keep a publicly accessible library of the municipal codes for hundreds of cities and suburbs around the US. Just find your city, type in a search for "obscene," and then look for the ordinance pertaining to distribution/dissemination to minors.

 

[calpoon]

I thought "obscene" material was illegal everywhere, and that applied specifically to illegal acts, and not to just sexual/mature content.

 

[No_Man]

I thought "obscene" material was illegal everywhere, and that applied specifically to illegal acts, and not to just sexual/mature content.

That gets into the definition of "obscene," which is a tricky subject at the federal level. You're right that there is a general prohibition against obscene acts in Title 18 of the Federal Code. However, no one is quite sure whether typical hardcore pornography falls into it. The courts have discussed certain instances of it, many being ruled "artistic." Yet, John Stagliano (aka Buttman) and Evil Angel were just recently indicted for producing some pretty typical hardcore material. As a result of this confusion, Title 18 is very rarely enforced except in the most clear cut cases (Stagliano's case being an exception to the rule).

However, there is a second law, Title 47, that regulates distribution specifically to minors. That one is much more commonly used to threaten websites, especially since the government's failure to get the Communications Decency Act and the Child Online Protection Act passed the Supreme Court. Like I said, these are most commonly threats, and wouldn't get very far in court. However, with the cost of lawyers, its far easier for a website to throw up a simple warning page than deal with a federal or state subpoena down the road.

Because of all this confusion at the federal level, most states have written their own statutes regarding what is "obscene," "illegal," and "indecent," often using the term "obscene" broadly, and then citing specifically "illegal" material (like child-porn). Its all very confusing, variable, and in a constant state of flux, especially with the broad spectrum of judges/courts that we have in the U.S. right now. I used the term "obscene" because that's what I saw used most commonly. Perhaps "indecent" would be more accurate/universal.

 

[Sicario]

In Illinois, you have to be 21 to enter an adult bookstore.

You can turn 18 and kill yourself all you want with cancer sticks, or join the military and go fight in a war, but heaven forbid you can't enter a nightclub or purchase porn in a porn shop.

 

[lovejoy]

Tell me about it. When I was 18 I went into a strip bar with no problems, but when I wanted to go into an adult video store, the sign said "you must be 21." This state has a lot of fucked up laws.

The county or local authorities can actually set up local ordinance for age limit for entrance to a local bar, adult video store and even internet site.

The local law can override the site age limit and they can also enforce it with internet undercover cops !

So always check with your local/city bylaws too !

 

[Violator79]

The county or local authorities can actually set up local ordinance for age limit for entrance to a local bar, adult video store and even internet site.

The local law can override the site age limit and they can also enforce it with internet undercover cops !

So always check with your local/city bylaws too !

No shit!! I've lived in Pennsylvania all my life. The county next to mine, you can go into a strip bar and the girls are totally naked, no pasties. But in my county, some strip bars are nude but with pasties. Does that make sense? I don't think so either. Also if you're interested, stop by here, I'll give you a tour.

 

[lovejoy]

No shit!! I've lived in Pennsylvania all my life. The county next to mine, you can go into a strip bar and the girls are totally naked, no pasties. But in my county, some strip bars are nude but with pasties. Does that make sense? I don't think so either. Also if you're interested, stop by here, I'll give you a tour.

As someone from the woods in Mississippi, there are a lot of funny things happening and not one single strip club from Jackson, Mississippi to Meridian, Alabama.

But if you know your way around in Mississippi, just go up Highway 45 N in Meridian, passes through McCain Air Force Base (named after Republican Nominee John McCain's father) and drive 45 minutes to a bar on the right side (country-music). Not only you can get in no question asked but the girls are waiting for you in the back just for 40 bucks for full service ! If you want a gun, they can get you the connection too. Welcome to the Deep South KKK country !!

P.S. Violator79,

Many states and local laws have funny laws that allow girls to be totally naked but can not sell beers (alcohol) in the joint. If you want the girls to be totally naked, you can't sell beers but coke and pepsi !