Why: The 18/21 requirement to join military and to drink?

I've never agreed with allowing someone to put their life on the line for the country and not allowing them to drink if they want.

A 21 year old legal drinking age is fine, 23 would probably be better because the frontal cortex (judgement) isn't finished developing until about 22.

However, if you're the military risking your life (even training can be life threatening) then you should be exempt from state drinking laws if you show your military ID.

1. MADD had their day(Mothers Against Drunken Driving),they had a large impact on that as well as the hours of operation at bars,even in my own neighborhood. While some things they did was good,some things were taken too far.. I personally have no problem with 18+ military drinking on base. They are there surrounded by buddies who will look after them,making them less likely to get behind a wheel and drink. But I also think it's more than that. Code of Ethics,the personal character of our soldiers. They hold themselves to a higher standard than the average teenager.

2. 18. I really don't want it going lower. 18 is barely not a child anymore. I couldn't imagine my son(who is only two now but still) going off to war before he's old enough to graduate high school.

3. I feel that 21 is just fine for civilians. Taking into consideration the age group at which most die from an alcohol related incident (16-25). It's pretty lenient. The _only_ exception I'd be okay with,adopt something similar to what they have in Europe. Where older teens 19+ or something could drink wine and/or beer in restaurants or bars in the company of parents,legal guardian. Still no liquor until 21 though. I personally just don't think in this day and age teenagers can handle that type of freedom. It goes to their heads and they run wild.

so you are doing coursework and are looking for a way out of thinking for yourself. nice. wrong category.