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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When I joined the Air Force 41 years ago, you could drink alcohol at the age of 18. The logic then was, and should still be, if you are allowed to make a life-and-death decision--which is what each and everyone of us does when we take the oath to defend this country and put our lives at risk whenever we are called upon to do so--then we surely should be able to make our own decision about what we want to drink.
That is common sense and not something that I thought would be the subject of debate 41 years later. Instead of going forward, it seems that the "nanny state" is taking us further and further in a backward direction, to a point where we are treating our soldiers as "child soldiers."
Back then, and I still feel the same, I thought we were "men and women" ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation instead of "child soldiers" in care of a "military institution babysitter."
To say "underage drinking in the military" is the equivalent of saying that our military engages in the practice of recruiting "underage children" who lack the mental capacity to make their own decision - an adult decision. It is a tacit admission that the military is "exploiting" underage children. I sure in the hell didn't feel that way then. In fact, I can even recall how "immature" and "idiotic" a lot of 24-40+ year-old soldiers were.
Just the question itself should be "insulting and humiliating" to these young men and women who wear our uniform, especially to those who have already lost their lives or limbs in battle. Out of respect for our young men and women, this should never be a subject of debate by our military and civilian leaders.
If the age issue has to do with "judgment and maturity," then I question the "judgment and maturity" of the "imbeciles and asinine leaders" who bother and dare to raise the issue in the first place. (No offense to you, personally, for bringing up the discussion on this forum. I am sure that this is only a rhetorical question on your part.)
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SSgt (Join to see)
You are just a bit older than I am and I am not offended because this should have never been an issue to begin with. The only reason states around the country uphold this arcane law is the matching funds from the federal coffers.
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I must have missed something. When I joined (age 19 in 1966) we had Enlisted Men Clubs (EM Clubs were for E-4's and below) that served 3.2% beer. We frequented the EM Club every Friday & Saturday night (after Basic Training) to drink and lie. They served anyone. They didn't ask for your ID and 99% of us were 18 or older. We just figured that the drinking age on Post was 18. And it was the same in Vietnam.
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If you are old enough to enlist, then you are old enough to drink. Most people have drank before turning 21. Most countries that we serve in, it's legal for them to drink before 21.
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Well again my point was and is that they are adults at 18. Otherwise they are too young to serve. And with half of college students under 21, then what do we do? Make it 23? 50?
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I believe that soldiers 18-20 should be allowed to drink on post. They're doing it anyway. It would cut down on greatly on the UCMJ received for underage drinking. I don't think there would be any more soldiers drinking than there are right now, just less soldiers getting in trouble for drinking.
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Firstly, I my first duty station was Germany and I was 18 when I got there and 21 when I left. Not once did I have any adverse action and I found the bottom of a bottle every weekend. If you can't teach a Soldier responsibility with alcohol, you won't let him drink but he can have a weapon? Yeah, that makes sense. Soldiers are a reflection of their leadership.
Secondly, and most importantly, it's unconstitutional to mandate a drinking age law of 21+ when the age of majority and voting is 18. See the 9th Amendment.
Secondly, and most importantly, it's unconstitutional to mandate a drinking age law of 21+ when the age of majority and voting is 18. See the 9th Amendment.
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PFC Ross McGinnis was 19 years old when he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on top of a grenade, shielding the other soldiers in his HMMWV. He was a M2 gunner when a grenade was thrown through the open hatch, instead of jumping out of the hatch to safety he yelled, "grenade" and pinned it between his body and the vehicle. He should have had the right drink.
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SSG (Join to see)
I dont think he ever said he knew PFC McGinnis wanted a drink, he said he deserved the right to drink.
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SPC (Join to see)
SGT actually I don't drink alcohol. Alcoholism runs in my family and its not something I wish to become synonymous with. SSG Maravi was correct in stating that I only said he should have the right to drink. I personally don't drink, its unhealthy and illegal for someone my age. SGT you said I cannot base the foundation of personal agenda upon the presumption of a person's actions and yet you did exactly that with me. You saw something that I wrote on RallyPoint and came to many conclusions about who I was as a person and where my interests lie. The law has stopped me so far and as long as it is there I will abide by it. Thank you for all the suggestions about what I should be doing with my time, and they are good ones so I'll tell you what I do with my time. I am a double major in International Studies and Political Science, I volunteer at a local unemployment office to help others find an occupation, I just got done competing in the Best Warrior Competition and I'm proud of my involvement. I also tutor some students in one of my PSC classes and when I'm not doing that I still drive to my old recruiting office to help kids my age make the right decisions about life and to tell how much the Army can give to you and what you can give back. You implied that you thought the only reason I joined the Army was to drink and hang with my buddies but once again you couldn't more be more wrong. I joined because I feel that America has given me so many opportunities that no other country could. America really is the greatest nation in my mind because of how much it has to offer. I feel that I owe a debt to it because of all it has given me and the only way I know to repay that debt is through service SGT. I guarantee you that I am the biggest patriot you will ever come across and so to insinuate that I joined for any other reason is a slap in the face. I hope you don't take all of this personally, I am just sticking up for my character which you so casually questioned. If you have any problems with what I've said please send me a private message and we can hash it out there.
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SFC Rocky Gannon
I think that if they are old enough to serve they can be served. I myself dont drink I am a removed, been 5 years sober, but as Logan said they should have that right.
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SPC (Join to see)
Exactly SFC, I'm not advocating for people to drink but they should at least have the choice.
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I'm not concerned about alcohol, just let me buy handguns from an FFL please.
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We have lost plenty of men and women under 21 in the last 12 years. It is a travesty to look these people in the eye and tell them they are not mature enough to enjoy an "adult" beverage.
We should stop recruiting people who can go into battle with their comrades, but cannot enjoy a drink with them when it's over.
It's an embarrassing shame.
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