The manager told me I need to be 18 to buy them, and he even falsely accused me of shoplifting when I tried to ask why! It doesn't make sense that we can't buy condoms if we need them. What should I do?
This is terrible! Young people should never be turned away from buying condoms! I don't know where you live, but it's unlikely there's a law prohibiting minors from buying condoms – and if there is, it should be changed. It may be just a store policy. If so, go someplace else! Condoms are available from all drug stores, some supermarkets, and even some other places. There are also mail-order houses that sell condoms (I don't know if they sell to minors, however). If you go this route, try to stick to name-brand condoms, which are of higher quality and are safer. As a last resort, you may be able to find a condom-dispensing machine (they're in some public rest rooms) – although these condoms are often cheap and of poor quality.