Drinking Age I believe that the drinking age of twenty one is appropriate and should remain as is, for these reasons. At that age, the drinker is more responsible and is less likely to be reckless than an underage drinker, their brain is still developing and consuming alcohol at a young age can be a serious problem, and even though eighteen year olds have the right to vote, get married and serve in the military, they are not able to drink due to military standards. When it comes to drinking, everyone should do it responsibly, that is why the drinking age is at twenty one. At one point it used to be from eighteen to twenty in the late 1970s and according to Tracy L. Toomey, Toben F. Nelson & Kathleen M. Lenk “After several years later, due
…show more content…
Wallace, Atticus Wallace, & William B. Weeks “The Vietnam War brought social awareness to the paradox of eighteen year olds bearing the duty to fight for their country yet lacking the right to vote or legally consume alcohol” (619). Even after the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971 allowing them to vote, they still are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. The reason being that underage drinking is not tolerated in the Armed Forces. But underage is defined by the host country, so 18 year olds can drink in Korea and Germany, but not the US. If you are caught underage drinking, you are subject to UCMJ. If you supply an underage Soldier with alcohol or see them drinking and don't stop them, you are subject to UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). It is then handled by your commander mostly and the base police. Some people only get Article 15's (which is a blanket Article served to someone when reprimanded) and some people get kicked out by dishonorable discharge. These things are taken seriously, but depending on your situation and your chain of command the results could be different. They can take partial to half of your pay for months or reduce you to a lower rank. Even though back in 1982 “soldiers consumed alcohol legally on U.S. bases, regardless of age” (619). Times have changed, and the Armed Forces want you to function at your best, and a person will not be able to work properly if they are intoxicated. Especially when your job is life threating, and any mistakes that that person makes because he was drinking could mean
Wallace, Atticus Wallace, & William B. Weeks “The Vietnam War brought social awareness to the paradox of eighteen year olds bearing the duty to fight for their country yet lacking the right to vote or legally consume alcohol” (619). Even after the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971 allowing them to vote, they still are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. The reason being that underage drinking is not tolerated in the Armed Forces. But underage is defined by the host country, so 18 year olds can drink in Korea and Germany, but not the US. If you are caught underage drinking, you are subject to UCMJ. If you supply an underage Soldier with alcohol or see them drinking and don't stop them, you are subject to UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). It is then handled by your commander mostly and the base police. Some people only get Article 15's (which is a blanket Article served to someone when reprimanded) and some people get kicked out by dishonorable discharge. These things are taken seriously, but depending on your situation and your chain of command the results could be different. They can take partial to half of your pay for months or reduce you to a lower rank. Even though back in 1982 “soldiers consumed alcohol legally on U.S. bases, regardless of age” (619). Times have changed, and the Armed Forces want you to function at your best, and a person will not be able to work properly if they are intoxicated. Especially when your job is life threating, and any mistakes that that person makes because he was drinking could mean