18-20 yr olds are they adults or not?

Question

My question is related to a "story".
My son is 17 and a senior in high school exactly one month before his 18th birthday recruiters from the Marines, Army and Navy started calling my home wanting my son to "fight" for our country. On Nov17th my son was in a car with 4 other kids from 19 (driver) to 17. They were pulled over for a light out and their car searched. A bag with alcohol was found in the trunk (no one drinking not that it matters for this question) They were all arrested for 
'knowingly possessing alcohol underage). 
Now the question. How can our government tell us that 18 to 20 is a responsible enough age to carry M16 riffles, drive tanks, operate subs and ships, fight and die for this country BUT they are not responsible enough to have alcohol in their possession? Does anyone else see a real flaw in this?
Points1> yes there was a drop in alcohol related deaths for this age group when it was raised to 21. But this would happen no matter what age was changed (30 to 40 would have shown a drop too)
Point 2>18-20 can marry, vote in our president and other elected officials, own property and are held liable as adults both civily and legally.
The way I see it there should be prohibitionn where no one drinks, 18 to 20 should not be held as an adult ( no voting, owning, marrying, military service) or 18 to 20 yr olds should have all the abilities of any other "adult". 
Whats your opinion?. From a mom, adult, survivor of a drunk driver (was 24) and irritated citizen

? · Accepted Answer

They are adults the law is just weird I don't like it because it creates a false idea that alcohol is a big deal and a great thing when its not as big a thing as everyone who is underaged thinks.

Paulo S. · Answer

Since here I've been reading about many rules and regulations in the England and the States, not making any sense. Especially concerning teens probably because they feel a bit lost. Teens are big "costumers" in YA around the clock and they make a lot of questions about those issues and others alike. They want to know there rights as young citizens.
It seems to me that in the end the police is entitled to arrest anyone, no matter how since there is always some kind of law to be claimed against them.
No matter what young people there is very generous claiming to live in a free country.
Nobody is free in a country were you have convenient laws to arrest you no matter you do by authorities
The law protect them but... who protects from it?  .

Time to start look and read in critical way what is going in your garden. As you just did.

Tired of it all · Answer

Well its simple really, the US nanny state only applies to US shores not foreign lands (younger enlistments = easier to mentally craft/manipulate).  
Owning property or marrying age limits generally still follow the 55 to 60 year life expectancy guidelines (although there has been talk about raising the age of marriage to 26).
Vote wise, the young that have yet to accumulate wealth are more likely to vote for extending or expanding nanny state programs because they sound wonderful (utopia is appealing until reality strikes) and they might benefit from the programs until they start to make a little money.  The politicians that push this stuff can't stay in power without votes.

Tosh · Answer

I agree. I'm from England and many people in Europe drink alcohol as young as 16. I find it absolutely ludicrous that in the USA someone is considered an adult at 18 but not adult enough to drink alcohol until he/she is 21. It's all about education and teaching teens responsibility and consequences for their actions.

? · Answer

Have you seen college parties?

Just wait till the stuff is even easier to get.

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18-20 yr olds are they adults or not?

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