Posted on Jun 24, 2015
Should military personnel under the age of 21 overseas still be able to drink alcohol?
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What is everyones input on the subject of under age drinking while you're overseas? I'm 20 years old and have been TDY to a few places overseas where it was different. Do you think military members should still fall under the UCMJ while they are overseas for that subject. I'm not against drinking, I just want to see what other peoples opinions are towards this subject.
Alcohol
UCMJ
Law
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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truthfully its illegal even if the country your in has no or low legal age, but at the sametime as long as you don't get caught on post your ok check UCMJ. My first duty station was korea also in 1998, my first sergent bought me a beer on post and said " if you can die for your country you should be able to drink, just don't get caught" and I did just that.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Well what I was saying is that the bases that I was on (Mildenhall & Al Udied) while I was overseas it was legal to buy alcohol on base at the age of 18.
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SPC William Weedman
I think in countries where the drinking age is lower than 21, the commanders have the option to enforce US standards or allowing the host country drinking age. In Korea in the 1980s it was the host country (no drinking age). It was jarring when I first arrived watching little kids buy bottles of Korean alcohol at a local market and take it home, sort of like when I was a kid I could buy cigarettes for my parents, the shop keepers thought nothing of it.
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2LT Rtchard Rockhill
One of my BIGGEST complaints was, and still is that I went to Vietnam at age 18, came home at age 20 with a purple heart and was told that I was too young to drink. Old enough to serve and fight, old enough to drink!!!
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2LT Rtchard Rockhill
Here's a thought. Rise the minimum age to vote, enlist, get married, and all the other "adult things" to 21. Make adulthood uniform across all segments of life. Of course that will never happen, just think how many votes the politicians would lose. LOL.
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Drinking age differs from place to place overseas. Usually, the military follows the host countries laws and SOFA. When you in-process at your duty station they should tell you the drinking age, etc. If not, ask them. If you go TDY, find out from the JAG. Best to be safe than sorry.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Thats good to know sir. I appreciate it. Yeah I was kind of confused seeing that you could be 18 and buy alcohol on base and it not be a problem over seas.
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As long as the policy of where you are at allows for that, then there is no concern. Unless your immediate command states no underage drinking at all, even if the area allows it. And to be honest, while I was stationed in Germany, I saw more people who were of age get in trouble due to alcohol than I did with those that were under 21.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Yeah I agree with that sir. It kind seems like gray area since we really fall under the UCMJ but the laws there aren't the same. Figured it would end up depending on your command.
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MSG (Join to see)
As an example, while in Germany, the legal age to drink on base was 21. In town, off base, the bar owner set the legal age. So, many under 21 Soldiers (and even some dependent kids) would travel off base and enjoy a beer or two. And, I am an NCO (SSG equals Staff Sergeant), not an officer. But I appreciate the "sir." Now if I can only get paid as an officer.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Yeah while I was in England the drinking age on base is 18. So i was able to buy alcohol while I was TDY if I wanted to. I think it should be one or the other honestly because it's kind of messed up lol. I'm just used to calling any NCO or above sir thats all.
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