Is 18 too old to loiter about?

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When I was younger my mum said that once you're old enough to sit in a pub and drink (which is usually 18 in the UK) you shouldn't be loitering about, and that loitering is what younger teens do because they're too young for pubs but too old to play (except for sports). I don't really get this though. When I was 18 I went through a phase of loitering with a group of friends, but some were 17, and I wasn't really interested in pubs and drinking anyway, I just wanted to get out and socialise. We just hung about in the town, chatting and joking. Then we went to one of their houses and sat up in his bedroom, playing videogames and chatting. Was doing that at 18 stupid of me, or is it quite normal for 18-year-olds to still loiter about or hang out in your friend's bedroom? After all, you're still a teenager at 18 and most aren't ready to be responsible, mature adults yet.

Yes I know this was years ago but I've never asked this before here and I was just wondering what you think.

It was better than spending the time in a pub or with a rowdy bunch hanging out on a street corner.

When I was 18 I went through a phase of trying to kick weed, but my peers were all into it.

But "loitering" was never a thing (good, bad, or indifferent) that I ever thought about.

I used to just sit on the internet all the time as a teenager talking to random people from everywhere learning about the world, I basically learned how to read because of Habbo Hotel when I was really young lol.

I think at the time your mum just wanted you to go and get a proper social life and try to experience the world early on instead of being sat about but it doesn't really do much harm, you'll get to see the world in plenty of time as 80-90 years is a long life if you make it that far.

I reckon the best thing you can do when you're 17-18 is learn to drive to be honest.

Yes. Driving was a more relevant concern than "loitering" for me back then.

Why let the kids have all the fun loitering?

I had fun loitering with friends at 18 and 19.