Too Old to Trick or Treat? The Halloween Age Limit Debate Sparks Outrage!
It’s a simple question around Halloween: should there be an age limit to trick or treat? While there’s no national rule on it (or any specifics laws in Michigan), lots of towns around America have trick-or-treating age limits now, usually around 13 or 14…for example:
Chesapeake, Virginia: The city of Chesapeake limits trick-or-treating to kids 14 and under, and older trick-or-treaters can even be charged with a Class 4 misdemeanor. Other cities in Virginia have similar trick-or-treat age limit laws in place, including Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
Upper Deerfield Township, New Jersey: Upper Deerfield Township has had a trick-or-treat age recommendation for over 30 years that advises against trick-or-treating for kids over 12 (though action has never been taken).
Belleville, Illinois: Bellville has a law called “Halloween Solicitation,” which forbids children over age 12 from wearing a mask. Those in 9th grade or above can’t “appear on the streets, highways, public homes, private homes, or public places in the city to make trick-or-treat visitations.”
Charleston, South Carolina: Charleston restricts trick-or-treating for teens over 16, who also aren’t allowed to wear a mask in public places.
So…SHOULD there be an age limit for kids to trick or treat?
Someone asked over 5,000 Americans how old is TOO OLD to trick or treat. And most people said somewhere in your teenage years. 43% said somewhere between 13 and 16.
Some people think the cutoff should be even younger: 10% said 12 years old . . . 3% said 11 . . . 3% said 10 . . . and 2% said younger than that. 27% said no age limit.
“16 or older” was the most common answer with 15% of the vote. Then 13 years old was next at 14%.
How old were YOU when you quit going out for candy? I honestly don’t remember how old I was…I think it was middle school (7th grade), but as we get a decline in kids going out (thank you to Trunk or Treats and other organized events) is it as big of a deal anymore? As long as they’ve got a costume on, I’m good with it and giving out the candy (unless it’s a Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers jersey, then no…kids gotta learn).
In case you’re curious – here’s some signs that you’re too old to trick or treat:
Your Dumbledore beard is real.
It makes you sad that none of the homes are giving out Werther’s Originals.
Instead of “Oh, a scary ghost!”, people say, “Wait, aren’t you my chiropractor?!”
When you get home, you have to protect your loot from your grandkids.
You skip houses giving out Starbusts because they ruin your dentures.
You don’t need makeup to go as The Mummy.
The only reason you’re going house-to-house for candy is to mask the booze on your breath before you start your nightshift at work.
You start trick-or-treating at 4:30 so you’re home in time for “Wheel of Fortune”.
Dressing as a ghost feels like foreshadowing.
