Should 18 year olds in the military be allowed to drink alcohol?

I don't think the age is the problem with people getting in trouble for drinking. I have seen just as many people over 21 get DWIs and ARIs as those under 21. Being stationed in Germany and seeing a culture where the drinking age of base is 16, I have noticed it is not as big a deal as in the States. Even the Airman we get straight out of tech school generally handle it well. There are always going to be people that abuse it and get in trouble but they would regardless if the age limit were 18 or 21. Personally I think if someone has the choice to serve their country at 18 they should also have the choice to enjoy a drink. When I was 20 I served in Iraq. On the way there I was not allowed to have a drink with my team while we waited in Baltimore. Luckily no one was hurt while we were there and I turned 21 during that time as well.

In the mid 1980's the feds passed a bill that to get funding for your freeways by the feds, the drinking age has to be 21. LA later changed their law back to 18 since they were losing money. HI should have never changed theirs since at that time there were only 2 freeways in the state and they lost a ton of money with the tourists not being of age.

The Fed does not set the drinking age for the States. That is their , (the States job). But the Feds can force them by threating to with hold money, which is what they did. As far as the Military drinking age that was Cap Weinbergs parting shot when he left as Sec. of Defense. He said the drinking age would be the same for service members as the State or Country they are stationed in. Do I think it is right? No. If that person can't be trusted when it comes to drinking how do we trust them with a half million dollars of equipment and the lives of soldiers? If one is still a kid they need to wait a few more years to join. The military needs men and women. Send the kids to school.

Everyone should comply with the local or national drinking age regardless of whether they are military or civilian.

My dad taught me at a young age about drinking moderately. I drank at age 18 only in the confines of my armory club room, and stayed at the armory on drill weekends. Nowadays it's news if I get a six pack in a 3-month timespan.

We have lost plenty of men and women under 21 in the last 12 years. It is a travesty to look these people in the eye and tell them they are not mature enough to enjoy an "adult" beverage.

Full agreement MSG.

I totally agree with you CSM Maynard.  However, the main thing that I see with this whole age limit drinking issue is that there is a microscopic percentage of underage soldiers who actaully don't drink.  What is the difference?  Underage soldiers are going to complain about it and most of them have been drinking since 15 or even younger so why harp about the law.  They could have been caught just as easy before they came into the Military but they weren't.  The only reason that this is an issue, is because they are held accountable in the Army for their actions of breaking the law.  Sounds more like a disrespect for authority.  If they are able to get by till they are 21 then good for them but if not then they should be responsible and accept the consequences but they can't because they were never made to do that when they were younger.  Mom and Dad always said it was ok as long as they didn't do it again, in which they "said" they wouldn't, then were at a party by the weekend.

"Responsibly drink" is the key...the many horrific alcohol-related vehicular homicides cast a large shadow over those 'just wanting a beer or two".

Agreed!  I was raised overseas (military brat), and in all those foreign countries, I was taught the proper way to enjoy a good beer or wine with foods (from age 7 or 8); I was taught the proper way to complement a meal with a beverage vice abuse it (even got my own favorite bottle of wine for my 10th birthday present -- for use under proper parental supervision, of course!).  When I finally moved to America at age 15, I was culture-shocked by how all the teens would sneak alcohol at parties.  Now, I allow & teach my kids (15, 13, 11) the same so as to prevent their "going crazy" when out with their friends, away from me, some day.

Not a military brat, I was however raised to drink moderately.  I was given the choice of the occasional alcoholic beverage at parties/with meals during special events.  As I got older I was amazed by the number of people who "abused" alcohol when I had been drinking for awhile.  However I think what is important to keep in mind is that some people will have  issues with drinking at 18, and they would also have issues with it at 21.

I was also a military 'angel' hahaha and I really didn't care to drink and I didn't really party with my friends who did even under 18.   Such were the times and maybe they are even worse these days or we just didn't know about it.