Hi ya, im also from the UK, i live about 20 mins from london by train, not that i ever go!
PatriotsRule in answer to your question we can: smoke, leave school, have *wink wink nudge nudge* (i dont know if i can say it on dis) at 16, learn to drive at 17 (but the cars are usually manual so it takes a while to learn) and can drink in a pub and be offically called an adult at 18.
thats it really!
luv wishspirit!