I think they should stop sending our "teens" to war at the age of 18. Instead of allowing those who serve in our military the privilage of drinking under age...why don't we just stop sending our "under age" off to the military?? Let's bring the ability to "join up" for Uncle Sam to the age of 21 and stop this nonsence all together.
"Our Teen" made his own decision to become a United State Marine and to serve and honor "our" country and the very freedoms we all enjoy. No one sent him off. We couldn't be more proud of his decision. Each "teen" needs to find their own path. Many struggle to find theirs. Some are happy going on to school, while others join the work force right after graduation. And there are those who choose the military. Whether they can legally drink has nothing to do with our teens choices after high school. Should we say they can't go on to college or Vo-Tech or not get a job then until they are 21 and can legally drink? They are young adults making their own decisions as to what and where they are going in life.
As a teen myself, I know the harsh reality or underage drinking. Now, you hear about it all the time, underage drinking. But the common reality is that it is no different than an adult, if teens are safe when they drink and don't drive obviously we are being safe. And I know parents are conserned with our health like over drinking and dying, but you know what an adult can do just the same thing so we are pretty much in the same situation as you adults out there drinking. So before you ridicule us, think about it.
In these turbulent economic times shouldn't the Minnesota State Legislature be a little too busy to be spending its time deciding whether it is acceptable for an 18 yr. old to drink as opposed to a 21 yr. old?
What value added could lowering the drinking age possibly have to not just the city of Caledonia, but the state of Minnesota? Is there a mass deficit of binge drinking and public intoxication in the Minnesota bars that someone forgot to tell me about?
Given the time of the issue this seems to be one of the more irrelevant issues I've heard in a while. And the fact that a young man or woman can choose to enlist in the armed services at the age of 18 is in no way related to their ability to go down to the pub and legally throw back a half bottle of whisky. They are two completed unrelated scenarios.
The reality of the matter is that these kids are going to drink if they want to; regardless of mandated drinking age, parental involvement, high school health classes, or any other number of reasons. Maybe given the enormous deficit that we're currently accruing for our future generations in this country a little extra government funding might not be such a bad thing. Maybe what we should do instead of lowering the drinking age is to increase the fines for the people that do break the law? Since these kids are going to do it anyway whats another couple hundred dollars then? Yeah thats it, hell it might even help pay for some road repairs.
Let's bring the ability to "join up" for Uncle Sam to the age of 21 and stop this nonsence all together.