legal age of tattoos in UK

[hugs&kisses]

now before everyone jumps in telling me it's 18, please read this, taken from www.wikipedia.org:

"In the UK it is a common misconception that the age restriction for getting a tattoo is 18 years old, but the law actually states that a person must be at least 16 years of ages to get a tattoo without the permission of a parent or guardian."

So why do all the tattoo parlours say it's 18?? And if it IS 18, where can i get one at 16?

many thanks

[Ethel]

Tattoo parlours say that because they don't want a 13 year old claiming to be 16. And they can set their own rules - they can refuse to tattoo anybody.

Where in the UK are you?

[Ethel]

And the legal age in England is 18, by the way.


A statutory minimum age of consent for tatooing (18 years of age) is specified in the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. This makes it an offence to tattoo a person under 18 years of age.

http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/html/FAQ_intro.asp ?FAQid=423&topid=86&servid=72

[hugs&kisses]

ah i see, that would make a lot of sense.
am in ipswich, all the tattoo parlours around here are reluctant to tattoo me, which i now see is because it IS in fact 16, cheers everyone

[helldog]

The uk law 'Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969' state that tattoo artist who tattoo anyone under the age of 18 will be fined £50 or on a secondary offence £100.