Most seniors and even a few juniors will turn 18 this year. What can one do on his or her 18th birthday in the state of Missouri? Of the 18 things listed below, there are some legal rights you may just want to pass on like buying cigarettes. On the positive side:

   1. Of course, if you turn 18 before or on this Nov. 3 election you can vote. However, if you are 18 or are turning 18 between now and Nov. 3, you need to register to vote by Oct. 7 to vote in this November election.

  2. Uncle Sam could call you up if you are a male. You can also enlist in the military. Of course, if male, you will need to register at your local post office when you turn 18. However, at 18 both males and females can enlist without parental consent.

   3. Shop until you drop. Yes, you were allowed at 17 to be unattended at the Galleria, but now you can open up your own credit card account.

   4. Along the same lines, you can sign contracts. At 18, if you have ample funds, you can now rent your own apartment, buy a car, or sign official documents without a parent or guardian’s consent.

   5. You only have to wait three more years, before you can legally text while driving. You thought texting was expensive. If stopped for driving while texting you will be fined $200. Obviously, texting and driving is dangerous for all ages, but in Missouri it is legal to drive and text at 21.

  6. Need a last-minute gift for a friend or family member? You can now also purchase lottery tickets for someone else over 18. However, if they win big on your ticket, it is not proper etiquette to request or claim a percentage of the prize.

   7. Have a tux? With or without a tuxedo, you can now get married in the state of Missouri without your parents’ consent.

   8. Want to irritate and disappoint your parents and pediatrician with tattoos at such a young age? The problem is these are lifetime decisions made in your youth that you might question in your adulthood.

   9. Newsweek, Time, Playboy? You can now legally buy pornography, but avoid those racks at the newsstand. The creepiest people search and peruse that area of the magazine rack.

  10. Just a reminder: If you are older than 17, you can be charged as an adult. It’s time to think twice about some silly immature pranks that you might want to pull off after your 18th birthday, since you officially charged as an adult.

  11. Hoping that your D.A.R.E. classes made a huge impact, and you will refrain from buying yourself or others cigarettes or cigars. Yes, you can even buy a tobacco pipe, but not a great gift for your lungs. Why cut years off your life expectancy by legally taking up smoking?

  12. Hoping that you will not have the dire need, but if you like to hunt wildlife, you can now purchase a gun and ammunition. However, you may not bring weapons or ammunition to school.

  13. You must be at least 18 to consent to your own medical treatment. If you’ve always wanted that nose job, now is your chance. Just remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not in the nose. Plus, the risks of unnecessary surgery are endless and your nose could turn out much worse.

  14. You graduate to a Full Driver License. You must pass the vision and road sign recognition test at time of application.

  15. No more child labor laws to contend with in the workplace. When you turn 18, employers are no longer required to limit the amount of hours you work during the school year. Let’s hope that your work is neither hazardous nor boring.

  16. Speaking of work, you can apply and be hired as a bank teller. However, it could be a dangerous job if the person that bought the gun on their 18th birthday shows up in your line at the bank with ammunition in hand.

  17. Although, the odds are not in your favor, you can purchase lottery tickets for yourself. Better to invest your money or put it in the bank. Given the current economy, you never know.

  18. You can buy your birthday candles, cake and lighter to light the candles (okay, you could buy the candles and cake at any age, but now you can officially purchase the lighter). You are 18 and legal. Enjoy the 18 new “benefits” of turning 18.