Lower drinking age to 18

Not sure about drinking age but I am very sure about voting age. You should not be allowed to vote at 18.

What do you all think about it - - - Should drinking be allowed at 18 just like voting is?

I find this very simple. At 18 a person is a legal adult. If one can take a gun and be trained to kill in the military then one should also be able to legally drink a beer. It is no more cimplicated than that. While I understand the reasoning behind not allowing an 18 year old to vote I also disagree with that notion under the current law. Again if a man or woman can join the military, be trained to kill, and then be sent off to war then they sure as heck ought to be able to have a say in who it is that sends them off to war. I see no logical way to say that at 18 you are an adult that can do this, this, or that, but your not a full fledged adult until, say, 21.

Bottom line if 18 is the legal age of becoming an adult then 18 it is. If people want to restrict a legal, consenting, adult by not allowing them to vote or consume alcohol then I feel the age should be raised from 18 to whatever the majority deem appropriate. That goes for everything including military service, drinking, voting, as well as how one is charged for a crime. As it stands now it is painfully obvious politicians and lawyers were involved in the entire "legal" age decision.

I’m honestly torn. I agree with the argument: if you can train them to kill they should be allowed to drink. But!

The trained to kill part is severely mitigated by the fact that they are in the military. Rule #1 is follow orders. 18 year olds do not give orders. Not that they are told specifically when to fire but they are told when to engage unless attacked. There “judgment” is constrained within very limited boundaries.

In comparison, take a LEO. I don’t know of a department in the country that allows anyone under the age of 21. That is because LEOs work much more autonomously than military. You may be alone in a patrol car and come upon what in your sole judgment is a life and death situation and you take someone’s life! That same circumstance is almost impossible in the military.

Drinking requires individual judgment. You are not constrained by a platoon leader or sergeant…. Once you are given legal authority it is only your judgment that is the constraint.

With no other input, and if somebody demanded I make the decision I would go with NO. Just to side with safety.

One is usually more mature at 21, and should be more able to make better decisions about drinking, but I gotta side with the argument of military service. If you can serve in the military, then you should be able to drink. Tit for Tat. Back when-way back when-Fort Benning had quarts of Black Label for 2bits!! I got sick and tired of Black Label!! but it was cheap, and I was usually broke!! In 'Nam, much of the time it was "Lone Star"!! ACK

I was 18 once and could legally drink back then. Did I do stupid stuff on booze? You bet. 18 year olds are going to find a way to drink anyway, but I don't think it should be legal for them to obtain it. If they want to serve alcohol to military on base to 18 to 21 year olds, have at it. At 18, most kids aren't responsible enough to drink, because they'll get behind the wheel. The U. S. population has increased 50% since I was a teenager. My home town has tripled in size, which means there are a lot more cars on the road today.

i could drive across the state line when i was 16 any but any amount of beer i wanted...........and boy did we ever!!!!.we would go up on friday and fill the trunk up...we would grab a case for us for the trip home and we would be pretty toasted when we got back!!!.....not everyone can drink and be responsible......i dont do that any more but back in the day that was all there was for us to do was drink and party and look for girls........to party with.........some people can drink a lot and function........some can drink a litlle and be dangerous to everyone...did i want my kids drinking at 18 uhhhhh hell no .......

I agree that regardless of age in the military a person has to follow orders. But an 18 year old in the military joined as an adult, period. If they fail to follow orders the military does not send them to a time out, the corner, their room, or back home. They are punished as adults. After all the 18 year old made the decision, as an adult, to follow orders or not follow orders.

Saying most kids at 18 are more likely to drink then drive is crazy. Unless someone can point to some solid factual information I am not buying it. Think to all the people you know with multiple DUIs or OWIs. For that matter think about anyone you know with a DUI. Now tell me how many of those are under 21. Don't assume for a second that only young kids drink and drive, far from it.

Again I can only see one age to have set when a person becomes an adult. Merriam Webster defines adult as "1 : fully developed and mature : grown-up". No mention of alcohol exclusions. Either make it 18 or 21 (those are always the two ages tossed out) but whatever age it is people need to remember and adult is an adult, period.

quote:

Originally posted by DUCK_SNORT:
very well stated, i agree 100%.......stroker

Again I can only see one age to have set when a person becomes an adult. Merriam Webster defines adult as "1 : fully developed and mature : grown-up". No mention of alcohol exclusions. Either make it 18 or 21 (those are always the two ages tossed out) but whatever age it is people need to remember and adult is an adult, period.

I agree with Stroker, pick an age and live with it. If you are 100% responsible as an adult at 18, it should include everything.

Easy solution: Eighteen > twenty-one year olds should only be allowed to drink if they are in the military!
No killee, no drinkee.