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Drinking

In: Social Issues

Submitted By badkat17
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Pages 5
Old enough to fight, old enough to drink
Brandon Molett
Sociology: 120
Instructor Daniel Beteta
April 23rd 2013

There has been an age old conflict regarding the United States military. If you are old enough to fight and die for your country, why are you not old enough to enjoy an alcoholic beverage? Marines who are 18 can be thrown into the very teeth of it. They face death in battle. They make life-and-death decisions in split seconds. But here's a simple choice they can't make: “Miller or Bud?” (Stetz, 2007) Some may argue that 17, 18, 19, and 20 year olds are not capable of handling the responsibilities that go along with consuming alcoholic beverages. To those people I say, if you do not trust someone under the age of 21 to be responsible when it comes to alcohol consumption, then why do you trust them to carry firearms into battle and make life and death situations? In 2007 the United States Marine Corps listened to these complaints from the Marines and decided that Marines, who were overseas, in ports of call where the drinking age was under 21, would allow those Marines to consume alcohol. It is also up to the commanders’ discretion to approve beer being served on special occasions such as returning from war. These Marines would only be allowed to drink on base though. These young people are being asked to make enormous sacrifices, said John McCardell, the former president of Middlebury College in Vermont who runs Choose Responsibility, an organization that wants the drinking age lowered. Yet, when underage Marines come home, they face arrest and can jeopardize their fledging military careers if they illegally buy a six-pack. (McCardell, 2007) There is however certain people that have some reservations about younger Marines consuming alcohol. Groups like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and older Marines. Although the older Marines may understand where the younger Marines are coming from, they still believe the younger Marines lack maturity. MADD thinks that the legal drinking age of 21 is exactly where it needs to be. During the Vietnam conflict, thirty out of the fifty states lowered the drinking age to 18 or 19. That was eventually changed back to age 21 ten years later because those states feared the outcome of drunk driving. As a United States Marine myself, what I can tell you is it is not the age of the person that determines whether or not they can handle their alcohol. I have seen the most senior enlisted Marines as well as officers completely lose their minds once they start drinking. Now, some people may argue that this is just a small percent. Or that these particular times those individuals just drank too much. Regardless of what excuse you want to use, the bottom line is either you can handle your alcohol or not. Now if you are deployed to a war zone you are not allowed to drink regardless. This is not like during the Vietnam conflict where some FOBs (Forward Operation Bases) had alcohol on them. In Iraq and Afghanistan this is not permitted. I still have not found a true argument, which holds up; from anyone stating that the 21 year old age limit does or does not save lives. It makes absolutely no sense, and it is shameful that my generation, which won the right to vote at age 18, continues to infantilize people who are allowed to make life-and-death decisions on every issue save one. We believe in rights - except for those of college-age kids, even if they are serving in the military (Saunders, 2008). I think that the numbers that groups such as MADD are using for their argument are far outdated and need to be redone. I have nothing against MADD and what they stand for. This organization is known throughout the world for it efforts in reducing drinking and driving, incidents and fatalities. This is one of the better helpful organizations out there, but their statistics and other information are out dated and some of their members are closed minded. When Middlebury College President John McCardell, and over 100 other college presidents signed the “Amethyst Project” it was because they did not believe the 21-year old drinking age worked. The age fosters a “culture of dangerous, clandestine, binge-drinking.” (McCardell, 2008) The project was named the Amethyst Project after a gemstone believed to be an antidote to the negative effects of intoxication. This topic is a double-edged sword. On one hand you have groups like MADD who are around because they have loved ones who have been directly affected by alcohol and driving. You also have commanders in the military who are taking a bit of a risk letting underage troop’s drink. These commanders empathize, to an extent, with their younger troops. On the other hand you have a person like Middlebury College President John McCardell who thinks that the drinking age of 21 actually makes it more dangerous for younger people to drink because they end up trying to hide their drinking and it promotes binge drinking. Finally you have to underage service members. These men and women can enter the military, vote, fight for their country and possibly die for their country but they cannot legally consume alcohol. This is a problem that needs to be fixed.
While drinking and driving, no matter how old you are, is never condoned, I do believe that lowering the drinking age to 18 or 19 can be just as strictly enforced as the drinking age of 21. At age 18 you are considered an adult and are bound by adult responsibilities. Why cannot one of those responsibilities be alcohol consumption? If at age 18 you commit a crime and are bound by the law to go to jail, why is it you can put your life in harm’s way but not drink partake in a few drinks with the same people you were fighting with? Nevertheless, this is a topic that has been heard over and over for many years. Those for and against it have their reasons. More people should look at the men and women of the military and realize what they sacrifice on a daily basis. When you look at them you should ask yourself, if they are old enough to fight for their country, why are they not old enough to drink for her also?

References
Stetz, M. (2007) Old enough to fight, old enough to drink. Retrieved from: http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070527/news_1m27beer.html

Saunders, D. (2008) Old enough to fight, old enough to drink. Retrieved from: http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Old-enough-to-fight-old-enough-to-drink-3194929.php

Clark, S. (2011) Alaska to Consider Lowering Drinking Age for U.S. Troops. Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/31/alaska-consider-lowering-drinking-age-troops/ Schafer, S. (2013) Lawmaker pushes lower military drinking age. Retrieved from http://www.armytimes.com/article/20080130/NEWS/801300305/Lawmaker-pushes-lower-military-drinking-age Rowell, J. (2013). Alabama avoids military drinking age debate. Retrieved from:
http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20080217/NEWS/802170302/Alabama-avoids-military-drinking-age-debate

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