Why do you have to be 21 to drink, but can be sent to war when you're 18, in the USA?

Answer 1

It's just so screwed up, we are just little pawns in the governments quest for power, our lives don't mean much to them apparently. I'm 20 years old and my boyfriend and I are constantly harassed about going into the army by recruiters and there is never any talk of war just promises of money and career advancement, that's how they trick you into signing up what they don't talk about is that you may not come back alive to reap the benefits! I wish I could buy a beer bottle and break it upside their heads!!!

Answer 2

There's an enormous difference between 18 and 21. Besides what experiences, knowledge, and insight you gain in those three years, think about this: in the military, you do what you're told-- that's why you're there. You don't have an incredible amount of responsibility.

Drinking, on the other hand, demands an incredible amount of responsibility, because no one is really telling you what to do, and you have the freedom and liberty to drive under the influence, pick up a bottle and assault someone, engage in unprotected or unwanted sexual activities-- the list goes on and on.

The possibility of a person drinking too much, losing his grip on sobriety, and then having the freedom to endanger the lives of themselves and others is worth a three year wait. I know many more responsible 21 year olds than I know responsible 18 year olds.

Answer 3

That is a great point. George Bush wants to recruit kids out of high school before they know what they're getting into. At 21, they might know better then being sent into an unnecessary war.

And I think the drinking age in the US should be lower. I started drinking before 21.

Answer 4

[quote]Why do you have to be 21 to drink, but can be sent to war when you're 18, in the USA?[quote]

wow i guess bush thinks younger men are better because they cant think lol

seriously i think America has become a mad zone
did you see the news on msn today. the government just lost a international flag banning law by ONE VOTE...... just O N E . VOTE i bet the Mexicans are laughing now.

Answer 5

I asked the same question when I was 17, in the Army, and in Korea!

That is the way it is, and has been, though it did used to be 18 for a time!

What does it matter, that is just 3 more years without you destroying braincells.

Bet you drink already, don't you?

Answer 6

The drinking age used to be 18, but thanks to many idiots drinking and driving, getting into trouble, it was raised to 21. Louisiana still had it at 18 up until about 10 years ago. It is really up to the state to determine the drinking age.

Answer 7

Well I could go very deeply into the general failings of the US government, but you also forgot to ask why you can legally get married and have a child aged 16 but have to wait another five years before you can be trusted with a beer... Basically whoever made the drinking laws was an absolute moron.

Answer 8

Bring back Prohibition.

If not, raise the drinking age to 25, along with the driving and voting ages.

At 21, you are still too ignorant to make any type of responsible decision.

Answer 9

because when ur 17 & 18 the military sounds so cool, if they raised the age to 21 then fewer people would join the military. you can only join till your 36 in most cases. wehn then drinkin age was 18 more young adults died from drinking and driving. they raised the age to deter that.

Answer 10

You can drink on base and don't have to be 21. But they want to get you young, before you realize what happened, you're already stuck.