Hayden Panettiere Hates U.S. Age Limits....

Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere has criticised the U.S. for imposing strict age limits on teenagers - branding the legal drinking age of 21 as "ridiculous".The 18-year-old star insists she is much happier in Britain where the legal age limit on buying alcohol is 18 and she is able to get served in bars.Panettiere insists America's age restrictions are old-fashioned and in desperate need of reform.She says, "I can buy porn or kill someone in war but I can't have a glass of wine. If I could change one thing about America, it would be its ridiculous age limits on things."That's why I love visiting Britain. I can walk into a bar and order a drink without having to show my passport. That's so cool."In other news the Heroes actress has become the latest star to auction off a date - she'll take a fan whale watching in return for a hefty charity donation.The actress will spend a day with the winning bidder and guests on the high seas in August (08).The whale watchers will be joined by marine expert and conservationist Jeff Pantukoff.

The eBay.com auction, which runs from 20 to 30 May (08), will benefit The Whaleman Foundation, which is Panettiere's favourite charity.

Panettiere's deep love for sealife became clear last year (07) when she risked her life by joining protestors in the waters off the coast of Taiji, Japan and attempted to stop fishermen from killing dolphins.

Since then, she has further championed the cause by lending her name to the Save The Whales Again! campaign and heading to Washington D.C. to confront the Japanese, Icelandic and Norwegian embassies about their hunting practices.

The auction is a Save The Whales Again! venture.