1.What I find strange about this is that he's apparently old enough & has enough experience of life to be Mayor but it will be several years before he can legally buy an alcoholic drink.
Nothing over here is unilateral. Some states have drinking age starting at 18 to others at 21 (same for cigarettes, marriage, etc.)
2....I still think he's too young for this sort of responsibility just as I think most 18 year-olds are not mature enough to be called adults. Not sure if the younger members of this forum would agree but that's how I've always felt about it.
Everyone could be called a dolt (sorry, no pun not intended

). However, I've long advocated that there's no such thing as true mental maturity (technically, physical aging is continual, is it not -- or are you avoiding all mirrors?) -- it certainly refuses to be categorized by age; doing so is just a generality -- unfortunately, and by far, it is the simplest way to relate it into rules and regulations (laws). Considering that getting drunk so that you walk around no more efficiently than when a toddler, unable to speak efficiently, etc. (I just opened a door for someone locked out of their room -- I could barely understand the alcoholic-slurred speech to say nothing of their inability to open a door), indicates that age restrictions in law were basically initiated so that you can actually do something that is potentially
immature and be held responsible for the results.
3....Not sure if the younger members of this forum would agree but that's how I've always felt about it.
"..that's how I've always felt about it,"

(memories fade out towards your distant past, huh?

). Nevertheless, since any individual only has what's within their own head for
direct comparison, that would be their initial standard and, thus, somewhat forgiving (especially as observed from an outside perspective). With more information and the effects of environment, the inner perspective changes (well, usually), although still subject to the individual's cognizance. So, if you're surrounded by monkeys, you're apt to act according to your perspective of "their" maturity; there may be a bit of a surprise should you decide change environment with a tree-to-tree swing with a tail you don't actually have
(ok, perhaps a bigger surprise if attempted with one you do -- then you'll really be hung by your...*).
4.Seems that voter apathy is not confined to the UK then.
As
Jordan affirms, certainly not. Did every Iraqi show up at the polls? Of course, if you don't want any of the candidates in office and/or you can't get anyone else to vote for
you...

8)
* 