If you are old enough to join the military, shouldn't you be old enought to buy a beer?

Fitforlife

Young man, I asked this in 1970 when I was 19 in vietnam. Back then you couldn't even vote either.

YES

blu joose

yes.
just that fact alone shows how f**ked up the world is.

Kitia_98

Yes.

billbowlerski

Not at first- Do + be done?!
18 is not 36.
Will away to will be done?!
Be good and good will come to you-
Tain't nothing like a cold beer.

really though -- I agree - you are old enough to risk your life but not to get drunk. That just isn't right - if you are an "adult" you are an adult - not one or the other - especially not being able to defend your country and possible death but you can't get a beer.

peter gunn

of course.

L3-knightw1zard

Yes!

ssgtusmc3013

Kuji

My first reaction is to say of course you should be. However, on more careful thought, it is apparent that the military needs soldiers who are willing to risk their lives and willing to kill and ready to act instantly on insufficient information. Fortunately, these are common attributes in 18-20 year olds. Unfortunately, those attributes are made worse with alcohol and are very likely to result in death if the person drinks and drives.

James F

you in the military? anybody whos in there would have drank more than just beer.

UncleRico

For a long time you were able to drink on military bases at age 18, then anti-alcohol groups complained and now they have to adhere to whatever the legal drinking age is in that state. I don't know how strictly it's enforced though.

Raising the enlistment age would only deny some people their only means of paying for their education.

Yes but if you saw how young soliders act with a beer you would be glad that cant drink. Shot we cant even keep people of age under control after a couple beers...haha

Nag-iinit

Not necessarily.

soniaatcalifornia

I agree but either way, that doesn't stop the youth from drinking! It didn't me when I was a teenager, its no different now I imagine.

VeronicaB

hmm.. i live in Europe in my country ppl are allowed to drink alcohol and buy tobacco at the age of 18, thats the age when they can join the army too. anyways i think that setting an age when people can official buy spirits and tobacco does not pervent 15-16 yr olds from drinking and/or smoking, coz almost every second higschool student does it on a regular basis and 70% of the students have tried those things out till the age of 16-17 anyways:/

sunsetdrunk

That line of thinking has no correlation. Children from age six carry arms and shoot a gun as well as anyone and they do take up arms in foreign wars as a matter of necessity. They also die like anyone else.
http://www.ginie.org/ginie-crises-links/childsoldiers/human.html

Underage drinking is illegal for a reason. Alcohol is addictive. Society and the laws protect the young generations from early alcoholism. Young people are very irresponsible with drinking and alcoholic behavior. The greatest risk to society from delinquent drinking is on the roadways. Young people (and lots of old farts too) drink and drive. Many innocent people are killed on the roadways due to drunk drivers.
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/rpo990/
http://www.madd.org/stats

Diane26

YES YES YES , old enough to die for your country but not old enough to drink , i dont think they should lower the drinking age , i think they should raise the age to join the military , give kids more time to mature before signing a contracted the will lead desert war , maybe after they have matured some they will chose a new profession and wont be lead in to a war thats is going no where I REALLY DISLIKE YOU GEORGE W

Christopher B

No. I used to make the same arguments when I was underage too. However, I have seen too many underage drinkers who caused more heartache than they deserved. While only 15% of our drivers are under the age of 21, 35% of all DUIs and alcohol related accidents are caused by underage drinkers. That should tell you something.

A 2 year old has enough finger strength to pull a trigger - does that mean they should be allowed to own firearms? The point being, that just because you are old enough to handle something doesn't mean you should have a right to it - or that it is in society's best interest to give you that right.

mastinox

I agree, if you are old enough to die for your country, you deserve a drink!

jason72780

You should be able to but not being old enough never stopped me. At the outer limits, the club/restaurant across from the barracks,they asked for ID but the wristbands were very easy to get off and switch. Plus at the parties we had in the barracks i was never asked for my ID, even by the NCOs, so in short it doesnt really matter what age you are.

Dan

compromise, if you sign up to serve the military at 18, then you get to drink at 18.

susie_q

yes...that really bothers me, i am not a drinker but even if you are only 18 to me if you have the possibility of laying your life down for your country you should be able to buy a beer and add to that after basic you should be able to sign yourself off base for the weekend...in the army you have to have your parents or family members over 21 sign you off. crazy !

robinet_des_bois

If you are in the military you must have been drunk when signing up, this meaning you have already bought more than just one beer.

Negrodeus

No... just because they like naive teenagers in the military doesn't mean you possess the maturity to handle intoxication....

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