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Should Drinking Age Be Allowed In The Military

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During the 1970’s, the drinking age was raised from eighteen years of age to nineteen years of age, soon after it was adjusted to twenty-one years of age. However, in the time since, there has been growing discontent with the current laws that restrict military personnel who are under twenty-one years old, when they are serving their country, to legally purchase alcohol. On account of the age for drinking being higher than the age for enlisting in the military, the drinking age restriction should be adjusted accordingly to allow military personnel to purchase alcohol. As expected, bringing this issue up creates a multitude of opinions, all of which are full of stories and statistics for or against adjusting the minimum legal age to drink.
Many think that the men and women that we trust to defend and protect our nation should be given the privilege to be able to purchase and drink alcoholic beverages. Currently service members are able to legally possess alcohol, while in war zones. Furthermore, if a military base is within fifty miles of Canada, Mexico, or a state with a lower drinking age, its …show more content…

Bob Lynn, state representative of Alaska, introduced a bill that would enable any service member 18 years or older with a military ID, the right to both purchase and drink alcohol in the state of Alaska (Greenhaven). Furthermore, another person who has been working diligently towards lowering the military drinking age is Senator Ron Young of Maryland (US Patriot). He has been working towards making age eighteen be the true age of adulthood (US Patriot). Upon turning eighteen years old an individual can enjoy almost all of the things we associate with being an adult, the right to vote, getting married, to sign contracts, and to join the military. His goal is to add the privilege to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages to this list of adulthood

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