Tiburcio ‘Tibby’ Estrada is author of next 2015-2016 MLHS senior student editorial
The Longest Debate
If a person can die at the age of 18 or his or her country, he or she should be able to have a drink. Eighteen-year-old active duty service members can vote, smoke and fight for their country, but they cannot legally have a drink. They are overseas in a foreign country seeing things like death; and more blood than any civilian can imagine. When they come home, only they know happened, what they saw and what they had to do. That stays with them. At the age of 18, that is a long time. I believe they should lower the drinking age for active members of the Armed Forces.
How about when service members go off base, or go celebrate a new member’s first patrol? The rest of the squad is over 21, but you, you are 18 and have to say, “I’ll have the apple juice.” That member won’t have another first patrol. That member will have his or her second, third and fourth. What if your friend, brother or sister got hit, and you are trying to make the pain or the thought of losing that person go away? I’m not saying get drunk; I’m saying have a drink to calm the nerves and go back to the base, or if you’re on leave, go home.
In the government’s eyes, you are an adult, so you have the capability to make the right choice. You still have to show your ID, but now you have to also show your military ID, and if you don’t have both of these, they cannot serve you.
Here are some solutions if they feel concerned that the solder will drink too much.: cut off the person at two drinks and they must have someone come and get them or call a cab.
In short, I’m for lowering the drinking age to 18 for active duty service men and women. If the government thinks you can die for the United States, then I think you should be able to also have a drink.