OnePoll (27)
MEN BEHAVING BADLY
Boys become men at the age of 27 - while girls mature THREE YEARS earlier, a study revealed yesterday (Fri).
Research found most blokes - despite the popular female belief that men never grow up - give up 'laddish' behaviour by their late 20s.
The report found typically loutish traits such as wolf-whistling at women and driving a suped-up motor are the first to disappear around the age of 25.
But necking shots and falling out of nightclubs in the early hours of the morning are habits that take a few years longer to get out of their systems.
The study also found the average girl gives up her attention seeking habits around the age of 24.
She will stop flirting outrageously with everyone except her boyfriend at 25, quit short skirts at 24 and stop flashing her boobs by the time she is 22.
Yesterday a spokesman for www.OnePoll.com, which carried out the research among 6,000 adults, said: ''The report proves men simply don't grow up as quickly as women do.
''While many men in their late 20s would probably consider themselves grown up they are still likely to indulge in some sort of immature behaviour.
''The study also found men take longer to give up drinking heavily and stop getting drunk in nightclubs.
''It is only when they reach the age of 27 they begin to consider other people's feelings and stop being so much of a lad.
''Up until then they are concentrating more on impressing their friends than growing up.
''Girls on the other hand seem to mature quickly through their teenage years and by the time they reach their twenties they are far more focused on juggling their personal and professional lives than being silly with their friends.
''But despite these results we are sure most women will stick to the mantra that men don't ever grow up.
''And to be honest, even when men claim to have matured amid more responsibility, they always revert back to boyish behaviour at any given opportunity.''
The study also found men only stop drinking shots at the bar at age 29 and give up falling out of nightclubs drunk age 28.
They continue making crude remarks until age they are 27, use cheesy chat up lines until the age of 26 and swear profusely until they are 28.
Men are also likely to speed in their car until the reach 28, refer to their partner as the 'bird' or 'missus' until 28 and pull 'moonies' on nights out until the age of 26.
And it is only when boys have their first child by age 29 and start listening to Radio 4 at age 31 they mature into grown men.
By contrast women mature at the age of 24.
They learn not to cake on the make-up by the time they reach 23 and try to stop bitching about their friends by age 24.
And while the average female tries to stop making her boyfriend jealous by 23, she continues to swear until 26 and fall out of nightclubs until 25.
It also emerged six out of 10 men believe you are not a 'real man' until you have respect for your partner, while half said considering other people's emotions was a sign of maturity.
Two thirds of blokes said real men look after the people they care about and 46 per cent said it takes a real man to keep their private life private.
Being chivalrous, being happy to stay in with the family on a Saturday night and knowing when to leave the pub were also signs of a being a man.
BOYS TO MEN
(Immature traits and the age they give them up)
Making crude remarks - 27
Drinking shots - 29
Falling out of nightclubs - 28
Telling stupid jokes - 29
Sharing details of sexual encounters - 27
Driving erratically - 26
Driving with the windows wound down and music blaring - 26
Wolf-whistling women - 25
Using cheesy chat-up lines - 26
Referring to partner as the 'bird' or 'missus' - 28
Speeding in the car - 28
Pimping up the car - 25
Swearing - 28
Wearing jeans around the hips - 26
Pulling 'Moonies' on a night out - 26
MATURE WOMEN
Making crude remarks - age 24
Drinking shots - 25
Falling out of nightclubs - 25
Telling stupid jokes - 24
Sharing details of sexual encounters - 24
Flirting outrageously - 25
Using cheesy chat up lines - 23
Swearing - 26
Wearing ridiculously short skirts - 24
Caking on make-up - 23
Flashing boobs - 22
Making boyfriend jealous - 23
Playing mind games - 24
Bitching about friends - 24
Flashing knickers - 22
