Can anyone tell me?????

[5xMomVA]

Just wanted to hear popular opinion. My 19 year old just signed on with the Marines, he has a 95-99% chance of being deployed to Iraq in the next 12 months. When I was 18 we could atleast drink beer, but now they can't until 21. What has changed so much in the last 20 years that one is considered capable to handling weapons of mass destruction and killing people for a living but can't have a drop of alcohol? He keeps telling me that he wants to go to a bar and have a drink one time (he's acting like he won't come back) before he goes. If someone is considered an adult at 18 and can serve their country, why is there a 3 year waiting period for alcohol? I'd much rather hand my 18 year old a beer than an AK47 or whatever the current weapon of choice is.

 

[Wolflmg]

Just wanted to hear popular opinion. My 19 year old just signed on with the Marines, he has a 95-99% chance of being deployed to Iraq in the next 12 months. When I was 18 we could atleast drink beer, but now they can't until 21. What has changed so much in the last 20 years that one is considered capable to handling weapons of mass destruction and killing people for a living but can't have a drop of alcohol? He keeps telling me that he wants to go to a bar and have a drink one time (he's acting like he won't come back) before he goes. If someone is considered an adult at 18 and can serve their country, why is there a 3 year waiting period for alcohol? I'd much rather hand my 18 year old a beer than an AK47 or whatever the current weapon of choice is.

I believe the reason they upped the age was because 18-20 year olds were getting a little out of controll with the drinking, goofing off, getting into accidents and so on. So they upped the age to 21 believeing that they would be more mature drinking age. (but even at that age until into their late 20's there are still some that don't drink responisbly).

But if your kid is wise he/she should wait to drink until he/she is 21, because if he/she gets caught, the Marines could find out and might decide they don't want him/her to join.