At what age is it OK for a child to have a nose stud and piercings ?

My son started sneaking at the age of 16, pierced one of his ears, got an earring, and several tattoos. HE decided...by sneaking. At that time tattoo parlors were illegal in our state, so he went to an illegal tattoo party. When I found out what he had done, I dragged him in to have him tested for AIDS and hepatitis.

THEN I became the bad mother. Apparently making sure he had not contracted a disease was absolutely AWFUL.