Why can our 18yr olds enlist in the military and vote, but not buy alcohol?
Answer:
uh.....let me take a wild guess here.......it's the law?
Todays youth is irresponsible. If an 18-year old drives drunk and kills my mother or father, I will be pissed.
It is the law
Because sometime during my childhood, people started to notice that 18 year olds were being EXTREMELY irresponsible with alcahol. I know that the military is suppose to teach you HOW to be responsible.
Because where you are it's illegal to drink at 18 until the voters in your state decide to change the drinking age.
Most Drinking underage laws have a military exemption. I now that is how the law in Florida reads.
Real brainy answers so far. I believe that 18 year olds in the military should be allowed to drink alcohol.
I know that sounds strange, but 18 yr olds in regular civilian life or in college really aren't as responsible yet. Many (not all of course) don't have too many life responsibilities and aren't careful about their actions.
At least youth in the military have some form of discipline and structure giving them the right to drink, vote, watch porn, whatever should be given to them. They are acting as adults.
Becuase the USA was founded by prudes.
that is a very good question
Each state decides the legal drinking age. For a while my state did allow 18 year olds to buy alcohol, it created a problem in that they were not only buying for themselves but for friends that were not 18. Also the accident rate due to over indulgence went up almost immediately. The law was changed back to 21 for their own safety & the safety of others.
because of stupid democrats and republicans. Go libertarian.
My opinion:
18 is the magic age where in a legal sense, you grow a brain. That's why 18 year olds can vote.
18 year olds, statistically speaking are impressionable and that is why they are allowed to enlist in the military but not buy alcohol - the military wants people that take to indoctrination as easily as possible the nation as a whole does not want people who are as easily impressioned to become impressioned by alcohol.
The military wants people to be intelligent and to think on their own, but only after the thought process has been shaped in a certain way.
The nation doesn't care about alcohol consumption but doesn't want it to start until after the ability to think and consider the consequences of one's actions has been shaped in a certain way. The nation assumes 18 year olds need some time as an adult before they would consider the consequences and thus be responsible with alcohol.
The question was about why - the law is a simple answer but not a good answer because its circular logic. Its like saying why is water wet? Because its water.
The law itself is not the cause, the law is the effect of the answer to the question posted - whatever the correct answer(s) may be.
geegee - another good point - if 18 year olds can get alcohol, even younger kids in high school can get it. 21 for purchase does seem to have the effect of keeping it out of the hands of those under 18 - high school age friends vs. college age friends as an example of this distiction.
If the goal of the law is to keep alcohol out of the hands of kids under 18, perhaps 21 is the age that actually accomplished the goal.
In addition, I believe 18 year olds in the military can purchase and consume alcohol on base. (that may have changed, but was true in the past if not now) Same effect - those military personnel aren't exposed to kids under 18 on base.
I believe if you are in the military you should be able to drink. On military bases, there are clubs specifically for younger enlisted personnel. I say, on base in a controlled environment, you allow 18-20 year old kids to drink at these clubs. You make rules that if they leave base, or are caught in an alcohol related incident off base while being underage that they will face severe punishment to include Article 15's, nights in the "brig" demotion or even discharge.
If you are under 21 and not in the military, move overseas or wait until you are 21.
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