Question of the Day: Old Enough To Die For Your Country, Not Old Enough To Drink
I work in a couple of bars on a military post (full disclosure: my husband is a SSG in the US Army, currently serving in Iraq and stationed on the military post where I work) and I see grown folks acting all kinds of stupid while indulging in alcoholic pleasures. I also see plenty of grown folks acting and drinking responsibly.
There are some soldiers who are not allowed, by law, to drink alcohol. For legal purposes, including voting, signing contracts, marriage, and criminal prosecution, these young people are considered adults (they are after all between the ages of 18 and 20). But, despite being considered adult enough to handle small and heavy artillery, they are not considered adult enough to buy/drink alcohol.
“…She ranted that 18-year-olds haven’t “developed, and that’s exactly why the draft age is 18, because these kids are malleable.” She added: “They will follow the leader, they don’t think for themselves, and they are the last ones I want to say, ‘Here’s a gun, and here’s a beer.’ They are not adult—that’s why they’re in the military. They are not adults.”
The Marines have lowered the drinking age, to allow those under 21 to drink (under special circumstances). But, for most of the armed forces, in particular, in civilian settings, it is still a no-no for under-age members of the military to purchase/drink alcohol.
My question is: Do you think a soldier/service member under the age of 21 should be allowed to purchase/drink alcohol? Why/Why not?
crossposted: I’m Jus’ A Lil’ Dizzy
Comment by Nathan. on 12 April 2008:
Yes. Anyone who is willing to risk their life for their country should receive all the benefits and be allowed all the rights involved with being a citizen of this country. How hypocritical for the government to assume that they are mature enough to be trusted to make life and death decisions with a loaded firearm but not with a loaded six pack.
Comment by michael T. on 12 April 2008:
I am in the military, and I am 20. All of us choose to drink anyways, but i must say that the people I hang with are 19-28 years old. The people who are of age are the ones who want to get wasted every day. Myself, Im tired of it, its old, I don’t care to get wasted anymore. My point is that I don’t think age has anything to do with it. I know people of age who will drink and drive, ALOT of them, So tell me this, Why is one of the MADD saying that the underage guys can’t drink, when the legal ones are the ones driving? I can go to iraq, Afganistan or where ever else, but I can’t go out and have a beer with my steak at outback.Give me a break. Im sorry for the ones whom have lost friends or family members due to drunk driving, But remember this, the majority of us have.
Comment by michael T. on 12 April 2008:
Just wanted to subscribe
Comment by oldtimer on 12 April 2008:
When I was a much younger but still mature man,age wise at least, I found my self seated on a commuter train across from a 20 year old male student visiting from the Netherlands. Of all the topics we chatted about nothing engaged him to the point of near anger than our statuatory age of legal drinking and driving in the US. He said we have it backward, we should teach teenagers how to drink but not allow them to drive until they were more mature, say at 21. He was not old enough to get a drivers license in his country. We did not talk about it, but I am pretty sure he would have said no one is ever old enough to go to war.
Comment by Richard Cochrane on 13 April 2008:
As a former sailor I’m shocked to hear that soldiers and sailors drink. Personally I never saw any such a thing. Of course you can’t see much face down on a bar room floor.