[tristanb]

When I was 8? I think, I used to take a bus to go get a VHS tape from the local rental shop. It's important for kids to have autonomy. In Japan, its pretty common to send even younger kids out on errands.

[kleiba]

When I was growing up in the 70s, it was totally normal for a dad to give their under 10 year old kid some money and send them to the corner store to buy a pack of cigarettes for dad.

[RajT88]

My Japanese friend told me his parents would send him to the store for beer at age 5. (He would successfully return with beer)

I gather things are different now over there...

[MiguelX413]

Where is “over there”?

[RajT88]

Japan namely. While I cannot say whether or not a store would sell beer to a 5 year old, no longer can anyone just buy beer or cigarettes (and more) from vending machines.

[RajT88]

If you are asking the part of Japan - Tokushima.

[lippihom]

They even made a whole TV show about it!

[tmtvl]

I believe a common joke is about a protective parent sending a child on an errand and then following along to see if the child does okay.

[knowitnone]

Japan has a lot less crime than the US.