Do you think the drinking age should be changed to 18???

Question

Hey, if we're sending 18 year-olds to defend our country (which, I completely support our troops...they are defending our freedoms!! God bless them!), why can't they have a cold beer?

If they're not mature enough to drink alcohol, why are they considered mature enough to fight for our country????

READ MY ARGUMENT, PEOPLE!! IF 18 YEAR-OLDS CAN DIE FOR THIS COUNTRY, SHOULDN'T THEY BE ALLOWED TO DRINK A BEER???? IF THEY'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK, MAYBE WE SHOULD CHANGE THE DRAFT AGE!!!

Maybe we should change the voting age as well since 18 year-olds aren't mature enough to make appropriate drinking decisions....

Honey, I am 32 years-old....I am not an 18 year-old looking for a great way to win an argument to start drinking...Lady, I don't even drink. I just don't think that the ages add up. You can vote and fight for your country at 18, but you have to be 21 to buy a beer? It just doesn't make sense like most of the laws in the U.S.

Answer 1

I think only 18 year old military personnel ought to be able to drink legally. Civilians need to wait until they're 21 because they don't act mature enough, nor can they handle the responsibility of alcohol.

Answer 2

I think for service men they should be allowed to drink at 18. If you get married and your under 21, at least here in Texas, you're allowed to drink. I think they decide that on the premise that your each others guardian. Either way, I think that if you show a military id, you should be allowed a drink if you want one.

However, for the general population, I do not think the drinking age should be lowered. England for example, has the 18 can drink law. They also have more alcoholics per capita than we do. Coincidence? Maybe. But studies have shown that the earlier you start drinking, the more likely you will have a problem with it. And other studies have also been done that prove that an 18 year olds mind and body react differently under the influence than a 21 year olds.

Answer 3

Many police where i live, will not arrest an 18 year old with a military ID if he/she is caught drinking, as long as it isn't behind the wheel.

But realistically speaking, I don't know anyone who waited until they were 18 to start drinking.

The real reason, that it is 21, is that the satstics where gathered, and even though they showed a pretty similar frequency of highway deaths at all ages, while under the influence, it was realized that several thousand people a year could be spared by increasing the drinking age by only 3 years.
whether or not it actually works, i have no idea.

Answer 4

You volunteer in our military, there is no draft, so your argument in weak. Overseas they can drink. No the drinking age should NOT be changed to 18. Many states went that route when I turned 18 as a matter of fact. The deaths caused by alcohol related accidents went through the roof and the year I turned 22 it went back to 21. Kids today are not even in the same league in the realm of responsibility as they were when I was that age, so I think if you are one of these 18 year olds who want to drink, I recommend join the military and hoping for an overseas assignment. Not the middle east though, they don't care for any drinking of any kind, no matter how old you are.

Answer 5

This argument has gone on for ages, so let me school the non initiated. The drinking age for a US serviceman is 21 in the continental United States, and whatever age for the host country where said soldier is serving. Germany for instance 18, South Korea, 19. Further more, commander at special unit events can request in memorandum form that the 21 age requirement (USA) Be waived for said event so soldiers 18 can be included in the merry making. I'm pretty sure that every 18 year old that joins the service knows that the keg didn't start flowing for them, just because they joined.

PS. Cantcu, i don't agree with you on much, but this one I'm right with ya!

Answer 6

I agree. The legal age should be the legal age across the board. If you are old enough to serve in the military and vote, you are old enough to purchase alcohol.

For some reason, Ronnie Raygun decided that states would not get federal funds for road construction unless the state raised the legal drinking age to 21. What hypocrisy!

Answer 7

I think the maturity of mind should not be measured with age limit, 18 years person would be more mature than 30 years old person. Yes, I agreed with my friend that when we think that 18 years old person can defend us why not they have the right to drink.

Answer 8

18 year olds are often implusive and incapable of making reasonable decision. they shouldn't be drinking. maybe the age to join the military should be 21. of course 3 more years of wisdom might hurt recruiting quite a bit. the same impulsivity that makes people want to keep 18 year olds away from alcohol is the same thing that drives them into the military.

Answer 9

Any state can make the drinking age be 18. HOWEVER, if they do make it 18, they get no federal funding and every state needs federal funding so they make it 21. Kids that are 18 will just abuse it. There'd probably be more drunk driving accidents because there not mature enough to drink alcohol without abusing it.

Answer 10

Yes, the 21 year old age is a joke. Nearly everyone who drinks starts before 21.

It will help young people to learn responsibility by allowing them the privilege of making a harmless decision.