Posted on Nov 28, 2013
Should 18 year olds in the military be allowed to drink alcohol?
59.7K
716
356
18
18
0
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
2
2
0
Over the course of my career I have seen many careers of friends and shipmates ended and/or "halted in place" because of alcohol. I can honestly say that I do not remember a single one of them being an individual under 21 years old. I don't think the issue is age. It is simply a maturity issue. Some people will get in trouble and some will not. Is it going to happen? Yes, it is. Can we stop it? No, we can not. Even during prohibition, people got alcohol. I think if we stop "mystifying" it and use education as the tool of choice, we will have a much better success rate with the young as well as the older kids among us. If you are old enough to die for your country, you should be old enough to do ANYTHING for your country or in your country. I joined at 17 years old. Not able to vote but able to die for the people I did not vote for.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I feel that 21 is reasonable for non-military, but if your old enough to die for this country, then the person should be able to drink. Most 18-20 year old military members are going to live on base any how, so let them drink at clubs on base, and let them buy alcohol at the BX and at the Commissaries.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
They actually are at some CONUS posts like Huachuca, where the mexican border was so close that the post allowed underage drinking to keep the underaged out of mexico
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Yes, absolutely. If you're old enough to die for your country, you should be allowed to drink.
With that said, only those who have answered the call to serve should be allowed to drink at 18.
With that said, only those who have answered the call to serve should be allowed to drink at 18.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
During most of my pre-combat stateside duty I was 17/18. I could drink on base in the EM clubs, but could not drink off base. It's my opinion that if you are considered mature enough to risk your life, you should be allowed to drink with a military ID. My biggest piss off on returning from RVN was being refused sale of a pack of cigarettes (State law in Fla. was 21). That convenience store clerk was read the riot act. I was less than two weeks out of the paddies and in no mood for civilian BS.
(2)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
That's kind of funny because when I was a kid in the late '70's, my dad would send me and my brother up to the convenience store to buy him cigarettes ! I'm talking 8, 9 and 10 years old ....and they did ! Salem Lights 100's...I'll never forget it. Kissimmee, FL.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
I'm going to say yes, because I've been to places where it's legal for 18yr olds to drink. In fact I've been to a place where it's legal for an 18yr old American to drink -- Ft. Huachuca AZ (on-post only). And I cannot ever recall any incidents with 18yr olds abusing the privilege.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I feel that if you are old to fight and die for your country then you should be able to have a drink. My only caveat is that you may only drink while on a military reservation or while at an official event (military ball, dining inn) and should be consumed responsibly
(2)
(0)
1SG Matthew Herring
I use to think that 18 year olds should be allowed to drink if they are allowed to join the military, but after 16 years of seeing how truly young and immature we are at that age I would definitely say no. Most 18 year olds are fresh out of Mom's house and have no true concept of the world around them. Their minds are still trying to process the fact that they are free from the "tyranny" of the parental unit, and as they figure their freedom out they tend to make more little mistakes. Now with alcohol as we are well aware it amplifies our mistake making output because we are impaired for the most part and somewhat unaware of what we are doing. So I would say keep the drinking age at 21, that way the youngins get a little time to process the world around them before they start using things to impair their thinking.
This is in a perfect world scenario, of course. In the real world we all know that these kids are drinking like fish, we catch them doing dumb stuff like rappelling out of the barracks window while drunk all the time, lol
This is in a perfect world scenario, of course. In the real world we all know that these kids are drinking like fish, we catch them doing dumb stuff like rappelling out of the barracks window while drunk all the time, lol
(1)
(0)
1SG Matthew Herring
I use to think that 18 year olds should be allowed to drink if they are allowed to join the military, but after 16 years of seeing how truly young and immature we are at that age I would definitely say no. Most 18 year olds are fresh out of Mom's house and have no true concept of the world around them. Their minds are still trying to process the fact that they are free from the "tyranny" of the parental unit, and as they figure their freedom out they tend to make more little mistakes. Now with alcohol as we are well aware it amplifies our mistake making output because we are impaired for the most part and somewhat unaware of what we are doing. So I would say keep the drinking age at 21, that way the youngins get a little time to process the world around them before they start using things to impair their thinking.
This is in a perfect world scenario, of course. In the real world we all know that these kids are drinking like fish!!! We catch them doing dumb stuff like rappelling out of the barracks window while drunk all the time, lol
This is in a perfect world scenario, of course. In the real world we all know that these kids are drinking like fish!!! We catch them doing dumb stuff like rappelling out of the barracks window while drunk all the time, lol
(0)
(0)
MSgt James Trent
The problem is with a set age is that I have seen 30 and older people act stupid and immature too. I have also seen responsible 18 year old people. Age really does not guarantee common sense or maturity. How can you be responsible enough to have the common sense to decide what actions in a war are appropriate and have the ability to kill the enemy but not have the responsibility to decide if you want a beer?
I would much rather have a 18 year old with a beer in his hand then a rifle or grenade.
I would much rather have a 18 year old with a beer in his hand then a rifle or grenade.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
This may be a little cliche, but if you are old enough to die for your country then you are old enough to have a beer with your fellow soldiers/sailors/airmen or marines.
Our government expects our young men and women to make life and death decisions before they turn 21, they sure as hell should be able to handle drinking a beer after a long day/week/month/year of sometimes miserable conditions.
Those who are going to be stupid and irresponsible are going to be such no matter what age they are.
Our government expects our young men and women to make life and death decisions before they turn 21, they sure as hell should be able to handle drinking a beer after a long day/week/month/year of sometimes miserable conditions.
Those who are going to be stupid and irresponsible are going to be such no matter what age they are.
(2)
(0)
SFC Howard Kempf
Old to enough, to fight and die for their country, old enough to pay taxes, old enough to marry, old enough to drink and if they do it wrong, old enough to face the consequences.
(1)
(0)
SSgt Robert Clark
Absolutely. If they are expected to be adults....treat them like adults. Don't pick and choose what they are old enough for, or not.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
My first duty station was in the UK. Drinking age there is 18. I was 19 and learned earlier than others stateside how to party and not party. I stayed out of trouble. Most did. Some, did not. I think those individuals would have messed up sooner or later, with or without the alcohol. Don't drink and drive. Don't show for duty intoxicated. If you don't have enough sense to follow some safety guidelines, maybe you shouldn't be serving?!
(2)
(0)
MSG John Wirts
I think a great deal of the problem lies with our government trying to eliminate the accountability for behavior. I remember some psychology classes teaching that many"adult behaviors" were the result of "trauma' in Childhood. They reasoned these "adults" were not responsible for their misbehavior, therefore it was "inappropriate" to punish them. When I was a child if I misbehaved, I got a spanking, I got sent to bed early, and I lost privileges. If I misbehaved at school I got punished, sometimes a spanking, sometimes loss of recess, sometimes detention. I very quickly learned to avoid behaviors that led to punishment. If I was punished at school I did not complain at home! If my parents found out about misbehavior at school, they would have their own punishment for me at home. I quickly learned proper behavior and work ethic. Holding children responsible for their behavior is a sure way to assure them the best chance at success.
(2)
(0)
TSgt Jackie Jones
MSG, I couldn't agree more. I live everyday dealing with criminals that blame everything on their childhood. To an extent, it's true. Their parents failed them. Failed to correct wrong behavior. Failed to lead by example. Failed to "parent" their children. So now, they are drug addicts, burgers, abusive spouses, etc. Where are the days of correcting a person for being wrong?
(0)
(0)
MSG John Wirts
Where are the days of accountability both for the parent and the child? I remember when we were foster parents before adopting our son. My wife and I were required to attend foster parenting classes. Two examples of Classes we attended one a child was heard screaming, CPS was called in and the found a young girl with cigarette burns scabbed over, the mother was pulling the scabs off and pouring ammonia into the open wounds. They took the child, when the court date came up the judge had the CPS and Child welfare reports stating the mother was unstable and not to return the child to the mother. The feminist judge commented "oh you are just trying to take some poor woman's child from her" and returned her to her mother's custody. Two months later she was dead, the judge should have been disbarred and tried for accomplice to murder. The second case a mother took her daughter on the LA freeway in the early morning and stopped her car and left the girl clinging to the center divider fence and drove off. The Highway Patrol rescued her and turned her over to child welfare. Three years later they located her in Utah and issued a warrant to appear, which she failed to do and again a different judge refused to release the child for adoption. So she was stuck in foster care. Neither parent was ever held accountable for their actions!
(0)
(0)
TSgt Jackie Jones
It absolutely horrible. Some people should never have children! I am thankful for people like you! You saved a life and made many better. ❤️
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
This was hotly contested during and right after the Vietnam war, and in fact the law was changed to allow 18 year olds to drink. But our politicians - fearful of losing control - were instrumental in changing the law back. My take on it - I lived over 12 years of my life in Japan and Germany. In Germany there is no restrictions on drinking. As a matter of fact Bier is their national drink. If you're big enough to put your money on the table you're old enough to drink a bier. And guess what, it's not abused nearly as much as it is here in America. Drinking responsibly is taught. It's the same about sex in this country. We are pretty prudish about it, but in Germany sex isn't something they hid in the dark behind closed doors. Our culture is about controlling our youth, instead of letting them explore and make decisions for themselves.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google