Senator Proposes Bill To Let Active Duty Members Drink At 18
For as long as I can remember, there has been the argument of “If you’re old enough to serve this country, you’re old enough to drink a beer.” That argument couldn’t be truer. If a man or woman decides to put on the greatest uniform this country has ever seen, then that person should also be able to throw back a drink or two.
Opponents of this will chant, “Binge drinking will go through the roof!” or “Drunk driving will increase!” To those people, I say get an education and stop being so whiny — it’s not a good look. One senator believes that lowering the drinking age is a good thing, at least just for those who are active service members.
From Military Times:
A bill proposed by Sen. Ron Young, D-Frederick, would allow active-duty service members who are at least 18-years-old to be served beer and wine.
The service member would be required to show their military identification at the bar or restaurant where they are being served.
While this is limited to beer and wine, I’m still all for it. Allow these soldiers to have a good time no matter their age. How could anyone be against that?
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program isn’t too happy about this proposal. These administrators believe that everyone should wait for 21, because they have no souls and are anti-America. These guys are probably the guys who were hall monitors, who always spout, “I don’t make the rules, I just follow ’em.” They don’t like change, even if the rest of the world does.
Thankfully, we’ve got guys like Ron Young. Young is just trying to give the people what they want. While it may not span across all American citizens, this is a step in the right direction. We can only hope that this is a stepping stone to a lower drinking age across the board..
[via Military Times]
I have mixed emotions about this. As a Marine NCO I have to deal with all the stupid shit the boots who are under 21 (mostly 23 and under) do. When they fuck up, it lands on my shoulders because although they are old enough to serve, they aren’t mature enough to think for themselves, which is why they get treated like five year olds all the time. The military already has a problem with DUIs, sexual assault, and alcohol dependency, and I doubt lowering the drinking age to 18 is going to solve any problems.
11 years ago at 1:21 pmIf anything, it will create more. However, if the older guys watch out for the younger guys and know the kids can’t handle anything stronger than coffee, everything should be okay.
11 years ago at 1:28 pmTo bad I can’t babysit them every second of the day. I tell my guys, I’ll treat you like a grown man until you give me a reason not too. Guess how long that lasts with a good amount of these kids fresh out of high school, away from mom and dad for the first time, and getting a paycheck for the first time? Two fucking seconds. Most of these guys are too young and impressionable to know when to stop, much like pledges when they first drink with their brothers. They don’t know when to say “I can’t handle any more, I should stop,” and I’m not talking about two beers, I’m talking already drunk, and their bodies haven’t caught up with the alcohol still going into their bodies.
11 years ago at 4:30 pmHey brother, I have seen great Marines get Ninja Punched (NJP) for drinking in the barracks room while not causing ANY trouble by the OOD. While we should all pay for our crimes, the military’s attitude toward punishing the many for an individual’s actions should be re examined. The DUIs and other offenses will continue to happen with or without this new bill. If anything it should lower the cases of MIPs and under aged drinking offenses.. Obviously. 1/6Aco Garmsir, Marjah.
11 years ago at 9:13 pmTo an extent I agree with you, and obviously its a case by case basis. I know many Marines who are under 21 and are mature enough to enjoy alcohol without getting stupid, but those gentlemen are few and far between. I blame the shitbags who are over 21 with two/three years of service who just don’t give a fuck. Were you in Marjah in ’08?
11 years ago at 9:50 pm2010 in Marjah
11 years ago at 2:53 pmMany of my mentors when I was a junior Marine fought in Marjah in 2010 (not 08, my mistake). I heard it was a very target rich environment. ANGLICO here.
11 years ago at 4:52 pmI served side by side with your staff NCOs and officers in combat, the ANGLICO guys showed up out of no where when we were taking heavy contact to help us out, good times, cheers.
11 years ago at 5:49 pmWhat can I say, we hear a fight, we come running with bombs in tow.
I raise my glass to you, Brother.
11 years ago at 8:36 pmI don’t even want you fired anymore, Boulevard. My life is collapsing around me.
11 years ago at 1:26 pmAs much as I like the patriotism, Commanders will just ban it. Commanders can change anything and put up memo’s and such. Commanders will probably ban bars until a certain age or ban drinking in general until a certain age. If you think they cant, or wont, you havent served.
Just make it 19 for hard stuff for the entire country, 17 for beer.
11 years ago at 1:40 pm17 for beer? High school parties will cause a lot of casualties. I remember that the only reason back then people didn’t get alcohol poisoning was because we would run out of beer and the twenty one year old was already asleep to go get more. Yea, 18 is pushing it, 17 no.
11 years ago at 6:00 pmCommanders would never touch anything coming from congress. It just takes one soldier to tell his congressman what the commander is doing and that commander would be fucked
11 years ago at 10:51 pmThis’ll finally make those goddamn military formals bearable.
11 years ago at 1:49 pm‘Bout damn time.
You can die for your country at 18, but you can’t have a beer with your dad? Some logic, finally.
11 years ago at 1:49 pmI’m not sure if its by state, but I’m pretty sure you can legally drink with your guardian (parents) after 16 in your residents, but that’s just you and your folks, doesn’t include your buddy next door, and the whole OLine.
11 years ago at 4:34 pmI think in Georgia you can drink at any age if you are at home with your parents.
11 years ago at 5:05 amWhy don’t you just buy a fake ID I’m 17 and it works every time
11 years ago at 1:51 pmGo away geed
11 years ago at 5:50 pmHave fun pledging, always talk back to your pledge educator and never follow orders. Trust me, you’ll become the best pledge
11 years ago at 6:04 pmUnfortunately, it’s unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Just lower it for everyone. I can look out for myself better than some bureaucrat in Washington.
11 years ago at 4:34 pmamen
11 years ago at 8:28 amIf you’re old enough to fight and maybe die for your country, you’re old enough to drink a cold beer while doing it too.
11 years ago at 5:00 pmWow a dem has actually contributed something positive for once.
11 years ago at 5:24 pmEvery recruiter from now on, “Hey kid, you like beer? Well join the fucking military”
11 years ago at 6:16 pm