MedicSN6 Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I question has been posed and it is not the first time to do so, but yet again it comes up. Should the US lower the drinking age to 18? Reasons to lower it: at 18 you can: enlist in the military die in the military vote get married with out consent get a tattoo buy porn smoke (cigarettes/cigars) drive with passing a test, no need for driver's Ed classes skydive at 21 you can: legally buy and consume alcohol possess a handgun (in most states) My thoughts are as follows: The main argument I see people having is that "if you're old enough to enlist/serve your country/die for your country/etc etc" then you should be able to drink. Why not just lower the drinking age for our military personnel? If you are a member of the military be it Active Duty, Reservist, or Guard, and have a valid Military ID (not a dependent ID), you should be able to buy and drink alcohol. A simple given here. I am a disabled Vet of OIF/OEF. I enlisted as a Medic and did my time and subsequently was injured. Although I was already 21 when I enlisted, these soldiers deserve more from their government than a medal and a pat on the back. Make it worth while for these young persons. Keep the driving age where it is, lower the drinking age for Military personnel, and make DUIs a 'First Strike You're OUT' consequence. We all know that alcohol takes away a persons ability to make decisions, and we all know that not too many people in the world, let alone the U.S., make great decisions on a daily basis. Why not focus on helping these new adults make better financial decisions instead of giving them another expensive thing to spend their money on and waste their time with. Yes I drink, no I did not drink while under age, no I have never done drugs. I am middle class, neither democrat or republican. When will the U.S. wise up and start making the choices that aren't assigned to a particular platform? Start making choices that make sense for you and your family and NOT what a party platform agenda says to vote for. Carlos Mencia is a comedian, and he is very funny. He tells it like it is. But he did however, once say something very profound. He said that if you think that you are right 100% of the time, you are Osama Bin Laden's pupil. I think he's right. Think about it. If anything should happen our government great as it is, should raise the cigarette smoking age to 21 as well. Far more people die from cancer than alcohol related deaths. But cancer research and treatment is BIG business and so is Alcohol sale. Our government can tax these items very easily. I live in Virginia and there are no liquor stores, the state controls the sale of alcohol other than beer and wine through the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, or ABC stores. Beer and wine are available at the grocery. Maryland on the other hand, limits ALL alcoholic beverages to Liquor stores and grocery stores do not sell any alcoholic beverages at all. Each state also limits the times which you can purchase alcohol as well. Alcohol and cigarettes are a huge income for our government. They view it as a win/win situation, never mind all of the people who die every year from related illness or "accidents". Oh and another thing, those adults who do die from these injuries that have paid in to social security will never have to be paid in return. Its a sad thing that even their own citizens dying cant change the minds of a hand full of politicians. Keep thinking people, the world can only get better. We might even get back some of the freedoms my parents used to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Nice post. I have said that since I joined when I was 17 and I was able to buy it on many occasions under the age while on post. Never got carded. Just walked in uniform and bought it. Can't do that now. That is bullshit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athlon64~SPARTA~ Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 (edited) Well stated. I lived in Maryland for way more then a decade and they have the state run licquor stores. They tax the crap out of everything. And virginia is part of the common wealth states where you really get your butt taxed off. I call it the commonunist wealth states. The drinking age used to be 18 back in the 70s. Due to the draft for vet-nam war. I had my draft card and was listening to the radio draft numbers being called out and was never called. Then they dropped the draft in 73. Then they raised the drinking age back to 21 again. Ya you can't buy booze on sundays or election days, Crazy HUH? Dident we have the revolution due to taxation? I would say more but it would piss folks off, Soooo its a screwed up deal. I remember the riots in DC in 68, I lived 10 miles out side of DC. We saw the national guard go buy on the way into DC. The local police drove buy and said for every one to go into our homes and stay there, We went inside and loaded our weapons and stood out side with our rifles all night long hopeing to get a shot. But never got one. They were afraid to come across the line into MARYLAND. So all they did is burn out the row houses that they lived in. Later developers went back in and turned the slum row houses into swankie custom appartments that sold for a mil each. What a time that was. Edited October 17, 2007 by Athlon64~SPARTA~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 On the taxes: www.fairtax.org If you do not know it, learn it and base your votes on it!! I read the book twice and I am still learning it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sopris_EBDA Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 I agree with you, if you are enlisted in the military you should just beable to show your military id and beable to drink. The rest of the young assholes will have to do it illegally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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