Simple minds have simple thoughts. The issue should not be can 18 year olds drink. It should be wether or not they can vote responsibly. Lets raise the legal voting age.

I'm a VET having served 14 years and I fully agree that the legal age of adulthood needs to be raised to 21. I also agree that if a person can serve thier country in a time of war in the military then they should be given all rights and privaleges due to anyother adult. Let's stop advocating the lowering of the drinking age and start pushing for the raising of the legal age of adulthood. Also, I think the legal age of driving should be raised 18 or the day the individual graduates highschool. If they turn 18 before they graduate then they wait until graduation. Lets make being an adult mean something in our society.

Let them start drinking at 18, but don't allow them to drive until they are 21.

Joe must be a salesman. They rub their hands together whenever they see an 18-year-old, knowing that within minutes they can have that teenager locked into a legal and binding contract.

18 year olds cannot purchase a small arm, and they cannot get a concealed firearm permit. So the list of what 18 year old "adults" can do gets shorter by the minute.

The only reason the Military wants 18 year old kids is the fact that they can intimidate them into breaking their will in order to make them "Army Strong". If they had 21 year old coming in, their training would not be effective.

Having 18 year old drinking is asking for a disater to happen.

Just like 19 year old missionaries.

@ Mike Richards...
You mean, kindof like a military recruiter at a shopping mall?

Making adult decisions requires experience, it is not something that you inherit. Make adult decisions, test the results and grow into a responsible adult.

I agree with you Joe. It`s ok to lose your life in Iraq but you can`t vote?

The sound bite is simple, but a little thought reveals the fallacy. There are very different skill sets required for taking orders from an NCO or officer and actually making prudent choices about alcohol use.

Further, the idea of graduated adulthood permeates our laws and culture. Judges will give some deference to the wishes of 12 year olds in custody or medical cases. We allow 16 year olds to drive. A 14 year old may be tried as an adult for serious crimes, but nobody is going to suggest he be allowed to drink legally or vote.

At 18 we bestow MOST rights and responsibilities of adulthood, but not all. We restrict alcohol (nationwide) and tobacco (in Utah). This has the pragmatic advantage of reducing legally purchased alcohol and tobacco in high school social circles. We allow 18 year olds to legally buy long guns from federal dealers, but do not allow them to buy handguns from dealers or get concealed weapons permits until 21. I wonder how many of those anxious to lower the drinking age will likewise support lowering the age to carry a concealed weapon.

Finally, 25,30, and 35 for federal elected offices.