Pubs
Politicians can decide how old you are before you can buy alcohol in a pub. They decide the hours pubs can open. They decide pub measures and so buying a 'pint' will mean buying the same amount of drink whichever pub you go into.
How politics affects you
Where you go
Politician
Politicians are ordinary people who decide they want to help run the country. They become politicians by winning an election.
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Shopping
When you go shopping, you pay tax on a lot of things you buy. This tax is called VAT. VAT is added to the cost of things like CDs, televisions, washing machines, DVDs and furniture. This means that some of the money you pay goes to the government. Your receipt should show you how much VAT you have paid. Some things like food are not taxed.
Tax
Money that people have to give to the Government. The Government use this money to run the country.
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Government
The name for the group of people who are elected to help run the country.
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Eating out
Local councils employ environmental health officers who inspect all places that prepare and sell food, to make sure that the food you buy is safe to eat.
Nightclubs
Your local council can decide how late nightclubs are allowed to stay open. They close a nightclub if it is too noisy or a nuisance to the people who live nearby.
Holidays
When you go on holiday abroad, you sometimes need a passport and a visa before the other country will let you in. If you are entitled, the government will give you a visa or a passport. The government sets up places called embassies and consulates in other countries. If you have having serious problems abroad, you can go there for help.
Government
The name for the group of people who are elected to help run the country.
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Government
The name for the group of people who are elected to help run the country.
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Leisure centres
Your local council can decide whether or not you have a local leisure centre. They should make sure that the leisure centre is accessible to everyone. They can decide what you can do there, like swimming, judo or badminton and how much it will cost you to go.
