Everyone knows trick or treating is the best part of Halloween. It’s one of the rare times of the year where people give out candy for free! But that part of Halloween can be quickly ruined when someone asks, “aren’t you a bit old to be trick or treating?” Then, suddenly, you find yourself at a party eating something savory, with not a single piece of candy in sight. What a terrible and cruel change. Most people decide when to stop trick or treating on their own: when they believe they’ve gotten too old. So, when should people draw the line for the age of trick or treating? 

Although most people stopped trick or treating once they became a teenager, that doesn’t mean that’s the best age to stop at. Most people only stop due to peer pressure, and that means it’s not indicative of when most people actually want to stop. According to a poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University, 24% of Americans say that trick or treating should end between the ages of 13-15, while 20% say that it should end between the ages of 11-12. So, the most appropriate age for a kid to stop trick or treating would be 13 and a half, nearing the end of middle school. Yet, 25% of Americans say that a person should stop trick or treating at whatever age they want. Another thing of note is that age has an effect on what people say on this topic. 42% of people under 30 say that trick or treating has no age limit, while only 12% of people over 65 share that sentiment. This variability in answers shows that there really is no specific age that a person should stop trick or treating at. Therefore, if no one can agree on a limit, why have one at all?

So what is the best age to stop trick or treating? When they stop giving you candy! It seems that these days people forget that candy is given away for free on Halloween, so why not use that fact to your advantage? But, in all seriousness, there is no best age to stop trick or treating at. Trick or treating is for everyone, no matter how old. The candy may seem childish, but that’s not the whole point of Halloween: getting to hang out with your friends is. So, why not spend all the Halloweens you can going door to door, asking for candy, wearing stupid costumes, and chatting with your best friends. Of course, you will eventually get tired of trick or treating and find that it’s not as fun as it used to be, but that just means it’s time to start giving out candy. And if you’re really that lazy, just put a bowl outside and stick a note to it saying, “Take 1, Please!” But before that time comes, make sure you don’t get a bellyache, and have fun trick or treating!