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This is an issue that confuses me and it's clearly political. How come we can't drink till we are 21, but we can go to war and fight at 18? Does anyone get this?
It makes no sense to me. If a person can vote which has a MAJOR impact on us all, or fight for their country, they certainly should be able to drink.
In my humble old fart viet nam veteran recovering alcoholic opinion – The youngest ANYONE should be able to join any military service, vote in any election, or legally consume any alcoholic beverage should be no younger than 21 years of age – and that is male or female!
I know that when I was 17 I wanted to drink as much as I could and I enlisted in the USMC at that age. I found out that I couldn't go to war until I was 18 and couldn't vote or drink until I was 21. Just like all of you young folk, I was mader'n all get out about that.
Then I went to war. I went to war a young individual, and returned 13 months later minus a helluva lot of friends and a much different individual.
Over the years since then I have done a helluva lot of soul searchin' and have come to the above stated conclusions.
So kids, PLEASE enjoy your youth and don't try to grow up so damn fast. We all age at the same rate – except for those of us who have gone to war, we age differently.
Choose your politics carefully, VERY carefully, for that decision will set the future for our future generations – and THAT is one very awesome responsibility!
Thanks for the advice papadawg
Yer welcome!
Papawdog, I'm a Boomer, and well remember 'Nam, I absolutely agree with everything you said: sage advice there. Eighteen IS too young to drink, go to war, or vote. There's an enormous difference in perspective and maturity between 18 and 21,
I may not agree with you on same-sex marriage, but we are in complete accord on this topic. I did not know you served in Viet Nam as a Marine. And, if I haven't done so, I thank you for defending this country, as I do with all veterans.
"So kids, PLEASE enjoy your youth and don't try to grow up so damn fast. We all age at the same rate – except for those of us who have gone to war, we age differently." I had two friends who were 'Nam vets: they certainly came home as different peopl. I'm sure I don't have to tell you. One friend from high schooled, pulled #3 on the draft lottery.
In my area, we currently have 154,000 homeless Viet Nam veterans. This statistic is a disgrace. VP Joe Biden's statement about our treatment of veterans is one I support whole-heartedly: "Vetrans deserve the best when they're deployed, the best when they're in combat, and the best when they come home." His son is currently deployed in Iraq.. You may not like Biden, but I his respect for the military is laudable.
Papadawg, I look forward to more exchanges. I apologize for going far afield from the debate about the drinking age. We cannot treat those who served in combat well enough.
Whatever troops receive by way of assistance, they deserve more.
Sorry… computer problems…
Puter problems abound! mine, too!
Everyone has their own opinions which they ARE entitled to, that is a right which I defend vehemenently. As you can see, I speak my own opinion very well on various subjects.
Freedom of speech is another right I defend.
I draw the line at being told what I can and cannot THINK. I also draw the line at being told that I have no choice than to accept lifestyles of the sexually deviants.
I have a son in Iraq and a nephew in Afghanistan. the son comes home in about four months, the nephew still has another nine or ten months. Both are married with many children and are doing very well in their respective fields.
The ironic thing is that I thought I went to war so they would not have to.
The lesson each generation will always have to learn is;
"Freedom Is Not Free!"
I'm not seeing a sufficient explanation beyond a supposed decrease of maturity in a general way between 21 and 18. This is a fine emotional retort to the problem of children growing up and becoming irresponsible young adults. The problem with it is that it ignores the actual evidence of underage drinking. By pushing it underground and into social circumstances of high peer pressures it becomes less safe and less responsible, with less social capacity for monitoring behavior and safe responsible education on the dangers of alcohol consumption, than if we admit legal purchase and consumption of alcohol at 18 and other recognized legal adulthood rites like voting and smoking. For example, like with the Prohibition era, the types of alcohol consumed changes from mostly beer and ales to a higher percentage of hard liquor. Where the product is considered illicit, it must be easily concealed and have a higher bang for the buck as it were.
Sure college kids can be dumb drinkers, but so can adults. The general societal problem of drunken debaucheries is not somehow limited to 18-20 year old college students. Let adults be adults. There might be sensible ways to phase this in as a compromise. Such as allowing normal consumption in bars or public venues at 18 but no purchases at grocery or liquor stores without the presence of a supervising adult. I'd probably go further and suggest that older children should be permitted to be served alcohol, with some sensible limitation, in the presence of a parent or legal guardian even in public venues. To my understanding Europe has laws like this and tends to have less of a problem with alcohol related deaths as a result.
If I can be drafted, I should be able to drink.
I live in Britain and I want it to go up. My hometown in particular is filled with drunk youths most Friday and Saturday nights and whether increasing the drinking age would help, I don't know but the current laws definitely aren't working that well. (As far as I've seen, anyway)
well I was going to make a point of the drinking age being ridiculous at almost any age. Then I was going to refernce probably great britain and how the age is younger, but that they are taught at an earlier age to "respect" consumption and not to over do it like american kids…. BUT Kiera shut that one down for me! haha! Ah well… for once Tiberivs has no opinion on the matter…. or at least none I feel I can defend. I know. I'm surprised too!
Yeah, for me this is yet another example of teaching moderation and not demonizing something to the point of elevating it to something more than it is. Why can I not buy an 18 year old returning Afghanistan veteran who lost his arms a beer? He can die for this country, vote to effect change in this country, yet can't have a shot of tequila? More ethics laws, not true laws of conduct and protection.