Consider this: A person fully recognized by law to serve in the military and risk their life in combat can no longer legally work in a strip club.

And even crazier, employers who hire them for such roles now risk up to 15 years in federal prison. Pause and reflect on the gravity of this reality. A staggering 15-year prison sentence for employing a consenting adult? This severe penalization is confounding. After all, 20-year-olds aren’t children.

That’s because Florida has enacted a new law that raises the minimum age for employment in strip clubs to 21.

The law, which subjects employers to harsh penalties for hiring individuals aged 18 to 20, has ignited a conversation about autonomy, safety, and the intersection of legislation and morality.

On the surface, the legislation purports to combat human trafficking, drawing parallels to similar measures adopted in Texas in 2021.

Advocates of the bill argue it shields vulnerable young adults from exploitation and the dark underbelly of sex trafficking. Critics, however, see it as an overreach that not only infringes on the rights of legal adults but could inadvertently exacerbate the very issues it aims to solve.

Under the new statute, Florida venues specializing in adult entertainment (strip clubs) are now at risk of severe legal repercussions should they employ anyone under the age of 21, even inadvertently.

The law stipulates a felony charge—carrying a potential 15-year prison sentence—for employing young adults in roles that may involve partial nudity or sexually explicit performances. Notably, the legislation does not provide exemptions for instances where a worker has used a counterfeit ID to secure employment, placing the onus entirely on employers to accurately determine age despite the deceptive capabilities of modern fake IDs.

The ramifications of this law extend far beyond potential jail time for employers. For young adults seeking employment in these venues, whether for financial reasons or personal choice, the law limits their agency and autonomy.

Critics argue that this approach not only infantilizes legal adults but may drive those determined to work in the sex industry into more dangerous, unregulated environments, away from the relative safety of licensed establishments.

Florida’s decision to legislate in this manner underscores a broader societal debate over the rights and responsibilities of young adults. While the intention to protect vulnerable populations from exploitation is commendable, the effectiveness and ethical implications of such age-restrictive laws remain hotly contested. Opponents point out the irony in legal adults being deemed competent to make life-altering decisions, such as voting or serving in the military, yet are considered too immature to work in certain jobs.

This law arrives amidst a growing trend of legislative measures that increasingly restrict the freedoms of 18- to 20-year-olds, from vaping to alcohol consumption. The unintended consequences of such prohibitions often include riskier behavior and a sense of disenfranchisement among young adults, who find themselves caught in a legal limbo between childhood and full adulthood.

As Florida prepares to enforce this controversial law, the debate continues. Advocates for young adult workers in the adult entertainment industry call for a reevaluation of policies that, under the guise of protection, may undermine the very principles of autonomy and choice they seek to uphold. The conversation surrounding this law reflects broader societal questions about age, autonomy, and the role of legislation in dictating morality and personal choice.