Military and the drinking age.
By lisado
@lisado (1227)
United States
January 18, 2007 4:11pm CST
I'm on the fence about this issue, so I thought I'd see what other people thought.
The drinking age in the USA is 21 years old. You can enlist in the military, and die for your country, at the age of 18, 17 years old if your parents sign the paperwork allowing it. If a person is old enough to hold a gun and die for their country, should they be old enough to drink a beer?
Before you get into the "drunk and stupid" issue, in Spain there are bars open to teens, and even in teh schools, if my high school information is still correct. Drinking is as natural as breathing, since it is allowed at a younger age. Drinking a beer and get drunk and killing people are different issues. Not everyone that drinks drives a car afterward. Adults drink and drive, as well. I've seen plenty of 40+ year olds drink and drive, so age isn't a reason to be stupid and careless. At least, that isn't the defense that I am hoping to see, though I am sure someone will say that being young and drinking means they will be careless. That can happen at any age.
2 people like this
5 responses
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I've always wondered about this.
What really happens on base? Are the 18 and 19 year olds able to drink on base or when out of the country, does their age really matter?
1 person likes this
@lilangel1869 (126)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I believe if u can join the military and put your life on the line then you should be able to drink!
1 person likes this
@kareng (55042)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I would have to say that depends on the maturity of the 17 yr. old. Some would be mature enough to have one drink and be responsible. The next one may not know when to stop. Same with the military, while one may be mature enough to handle it, the next could fall apart emotionally.
I know I didn't really answer your question but to me it would all depend on the individual.
@lisado (1227)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Yeah, but since the age is a blanket, not depending on the individual, it's hard to use that as a measure. It also depends on who is deciding if you're mature or not. I've seen some 40 something year olds that are less mature than some 18 year olds, but others might not agree with me.
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
20 Jan 07
Let get one thing straight I do not drink and drive. I am usually the one who is doing the driving so I don't get to drink. However, I am not saying the people with me don't get stupid but at least we are safe.
Now to the actually question. I don't understand this situation myself. You tell these kids they can vote at 18. This means they can make an adult decision about who should run this country but they can't make a decision about weather to drink or not. Doesn't make sense to me. The other thing is we let our kids drive at 16. We let them get behind the wheel of a car which if used incorrectly can be a deadly weapon. What is the right answer to when you should drink who knows. We all make good and bad choices and we must be held accountable for our own actions and stop blaming everyone else. The drinking age was 18 about 22 years ago and then change to 18. Who knows what they were thinking.
@lisado (1227)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Good for you! My husband, since we don't drink, always ends up being the designated babysitter, I mean driver, as well. When they would be sent to other bases for training, the guys would go together to rent a car, but since you have to be 25 at most places, only my husband was old enough to rent one. He ends up being the chauffer (sp??) and drives the others around. He says it gets old, sometimes, but it's better than being trapped in his room. He is the only one allowed to drive the rental, as well, so he gets stuck driving people all over, and picking them up when the bars close for the ones old enough to go. They pitch in for the fee and gas and get a little testy when not allowed to drive, but no way are we taking responsibility for any of them to drive the car when they aren't authorized!
@angelastreit (287)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Yes you are correct about the drinking age of Spain. My husband was over in Germany stationed there with the army and he would see 13 year olds in the bar just drinkin it up. I think that its something that they do before they are 21 so whats the big deal if they change it or not.
