Posted on Nov 28, 2013
Should 18 year olds in the military be allowed to drink alcohol?
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One of the most annoying things is busting college students for drinking. The problem is that you can at 21 at college but most graduate at 22-24, so part of the population can and part cannot.
But for the sake of argument, let's say that it is 21 and over, should military personnel be allowed to drink?
But for the sake of argument, let's say that it is 21 and over, should military personnel be allowed to drink?
Posted in these groups: 
Alcohol
Alcohol
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 186
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Being able to drink beer on base at 18 is no problem in my opinion. If you're stupid enough to go off base after you've been drinking then suffer your own consequences. You're in the military to learn discipline and grow into adulthood.
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On the surface it sounds reasonable - someone who can give up their life for their country at 18 should be able to purchase and consume alcohol. Just because a person meets the age requirement (I left for boot camp at age 17) to join the military and possibly give their life for their country doesn't mean they are ready to drink alcohol. In my opinion they are two unrelated things. Currently about 4,700 deaths per year in the U.S. are attributed to underage drinking. Younger drinkers are more likely to drink more drinks per drinking occasion than their adult drinking counterparts. We've all heard the term "liquid courage". Hopefully when someone enlists in the military, signs their name and takes the oath, they do it with a clear head. Alcohol on the other hand can cloud people's judgement. Sometimes their lucky, sometimes they pay with their lives. Yes there are responsible people who do not drink in excess or if they do they don't get behind the wheel. I just think there is no harm in making them wait.<br>
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I suppose federal law says something like they are not allowed, but because he or she is willing to put on that uniform and risk everything for this great country I believe they should be allowed to drink at least 2 beers, or 2 shots of the hard stuff, but don't let them start getting addicted to alcohol.
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Yes, The age of adulthood is set at 18, there should be no exclusions, especially to those who are charged with the security of our nation.
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The thing about these prohibitive laws is that they don't stop people from doing anything. They just allow you to get in trouble when you get caught. People speed even though there's a speed limit. It doesn't stop them from speeding, they just hope not to get caught. Whether it's 5 over or 20 over.
If 18 year olds want to drink then they are going to drink. It's just harder for them to do it.
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PO1 B. Kieth Cooper
At base clubs yes, out in town no. When I joined at 17 I was allowedto drink on base. There are rules and punishments. You are on a military reservation and held accountable by the military.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Legislation based on age begs another question. Why 18, why 19 or why not 16? Then why not legislate on weekends only? Or maybe just on New Year's Day? Legislation is Congress' way of garnering votes.
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Since the MPs typically patrol on base drinking, I feel that if they can serve our country, they can hoist one or two. I think they should be closely monitored though. Off base they can't dring, Security Police and MPs have a bit more control on base.
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SGM Matthew Quick
If you allow 18 year olds to drink, you're saying that they're responsible...why should responsible adults be closely monitored?
You can't have both here.
You can't have both here.
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SSgt (Join to see)
That is a realistic idea. I get annoyed seeipng Campus PD busting post-adolescent kids doing what they did (cops and legal world) and then having the gall to hide behind the law, as if it is justifiable. Take prohibition. Did legalization vacate their convictions for simple consumption?
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Being that I joined at 18, 26 years ago, and now with my youngest stepson who is about to deploy to Afghanistan, and under 21, I say this: If you are adult enough to die for this Nation, you are adult enough to have an adult beverage. Either exempt those in service or veterans from the 21 drinking age, or we need to prohibit those under 21 from serving and dying for our nation!
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I remember in 1982, 18 was the legal age nationwide, and in Texas the driver could have a beer in the car but not intoxicated and guests in the car were not limited. Whether or Not is a discussion only AFTER the apparently arbitrary age limited is accepted at the outset. Is it better to refrain from alcohol, you bet, yes, absolutely. Imagine all those bar tabs and alcohol costs compounded over the years, calculate the value today. What is frightening in the responses here is the unquestioning obeisance unprotesting acceptance of the yokes of third party determinations binding another person in their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Everyone is allowed to be wrong with accountability as a consequence. Risk is the price of living in a free society, if there were no risk there would be no freedom and how far from despotism are we today?
It is not whether or not an 18 year old that heretofore had at one time been of the age of majority to decide to consume one beverage or another; but rather, by what articulable right does anyone have to compel anyone of the age of majority to do or not do a thing absent a trespass on another's rights. Arguing the point acquiesces to the unsubstantiated legitimacy of the premise.
“[I]t is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or of any number of men, at the entering into society to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights, when the grand end of civil government, from the very nature of its institution, is for the support, protection, and defence of those very rights; the principal of which, as is before observed, are life, liberty, and property. If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up an essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right of freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.”
― Samuel Adams
― Samuel Adams
Author of The Writings of Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams [Volume 3 of 4, The Writings of Samuel Adams [Volume 2 of 4, Los 10 Mandamientos del Noviazgo, The Writings of Samuel Adams, volu...
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I remember in 1982, 18 was the legal age nationwide, and in Texas the driver could have a beer in the car but not intoxicated and guests in the car were not limited. Whether or Not is a discussion only AFTER the apparently arbitrary age limited is accepted at the outset. Is it better to refrain from alcohol, you bet, yes, absolutely. Imagine all those bar tabs and alcohol costs compounded over the years, calculate the value today. What is frightening in the responses here is the unquestioning obeisance unprotesting acceptance of the yokes of third party determinations binding another person in their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Everyone is allowed to be wrong with accountability as a consequence. Risk is the price of living in a free society, if there were no risk there would be no freedom and how far from despotism are we today?
It is not whether or not an 18 year old that heretofore had at one time been of the age of majority to decide to consume one beverage or another; but rather, by what articulable right does anyone have to compel anyone of the age of majority to do or not do a thing absent a trespass on another's rights. Arguing the point acquiesces to the unsubstantiated legitimacy of the premise.
“[I]t is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or of any number of men, at the entering into society to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights, when the grand end of civil government, from the very nature of its institution, is for the support, protection, and defence of those very rights; the principal of which, as is before observed, are life, liberty, and property. If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up an essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right of freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.”
― Samuel Adams
― Samuel Adams
Author of The Writings of Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams [Volume 3 of 4, The Writings of Samuel Adams [Volume 2 of 4, Los 10 Mandamientos del Noviazgo, The Writings of Samuel Adams, volu...
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I am stationed in Germany at the moment and you can drink here as well as buy beer on base at 18+. I see a lot more ARI's with the drinking age being so low, the young soldiers/airmen don't have the wisdom yet in their youth and they don't think of the long term consequences. Statistics show that lowering the drinking age would be a bad idea, those who drink at a young age are more reckless and with DUI's being a crime that can kill an innocent the risk is not worth the reward.
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