If 18 is old enough to lift a weapon in defense of your country, U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston says, it's old enough to lift a cold beer on base.
The Savannah Republican has introduced legislation that would let service members younger than 21 drink beer and wine at post restaurants and clubs.
People as young as 18 may enlist but now must be 21 or older to consume alcoholic beverages on post.
Kingston said he's thought about the matter as he's stood on the tarmac of Hunter Army Airfield as soldiers prepared to deploy for combat.
"There they are in their rucksacks," he said. "And they're going off to operate Abrams tanks and Black Hawk helicopters and squeeze the triggers on their M-4 rifles.
"We tell them they're responsible enough to do that and risk their lives, but not responsible enough to have a beer with their steak on post. I think that's an insult."
OK, here are all your problems... and note that solving these questions don't make it any better of an idea
- What happens when a 19-year-old kid gets drunk and drives off-post and causes a fatal accident.
- What constitutes a "club" or "restaurant"? Are outdoor decks acceptable? What about organized unit activities that aren't at the club? What about the bowling alley, which always has a snack bar attached?
- What are you allowing them to drink? The article mentions beer and wine, but what about mixed drinks? Hard liquor? Straight shots?
Most importantly is this...
What is the message we're sending to the troops that somehow we have to allow you to drink alcohol before you're somehow considered to be fully grown-up? Why can't that soldier heading off to operate a Black Hawk helicopter (note: no one is taking Abrams tanks to the field any more these days) enjoy a steak without a beer? Does he have to have a beer to enjoy the steak? Is the steak somehow incomplete without the beer? Are they really insulted if they get their steak with a Coke instead of a Coors Light?
By: Brant
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2 comments:
I imagine the same thing happens as when a 21 year old Soldier (or civilian) drives off-post (or on-post) and causes a fatal accident. What's your point? Do you think that only 19 year olds will commit DUIs?
I don't see a problem with allowing Soldiers to drink at clubs, restaurants, outdoor decks, bowling alleys, BBQ pits, or pretty much anywhere else 21 year olds can drink.
Let them drink whatever everyone else can drink...from beer to wine to Jack Daniels. Who cares?
I agree totally with the proposed legislation. If they can accept the responsibility for Soldiering, then they should be able to accept the responsibility for drinking. There will be exceptions, but that is not limited by age. Every day I see plenty of morons well beyond their 21st year of existence.
if your point is that morons exist anywhere, and they'll be morons whether they drink or not, then why not just abolish the drinking age altogether, instead of just for soldiers?
Why is soldiering any more or less of a responsibility than being a policeman, firefighter, or EMT?
Is it about the fact that your life might be on the line? Then how about coal miners or lumberjacks?
Is it about the personal sacrifice of doing good for others? Then the entire City Year program ought to be allowed to drink. Ditto USAID, the Peace Corps, and the Red Cross.
More to the point - do you *have* to drink to have a good time? Is that a requirement of enjoying the evening? If you don't get to drink at age 19 are you somehow less of a person?
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