why is it that you cant drink until youre 21 but can join the military straight out of high school?
137813
At that age you are still confused about life.\n It is one way the governement aids and abets your insanity.
843322
Chill kid you are required by law to fill it out and give it to the post office. It doesn't mean your joining the military it puts your name on a list that if the draft were ever reinstated you could be called there are no exceptions so fill it out and send it. It's been the law since 1980's all males that turn 18 must fill out the form. don't sweat it it's nothing.
501006
I say 18 if you ask me, yeah its still young i guess, but by that time, you should be finishing up H.S and have lived under parents law long enough. Just like you said, you can go fight wars and vote, thats a big responsibility right there. If you old enough to (die) and old enough to vote. then I think the legal age should be 18.. As far as drinking, let be real, if someone under age wants to drink they can get liq, its not that hard..
684593
it depends on where you live.  some states do allow an 18 year old to into the military AND go buy a lottery ticket.  \n\nif some states don't allow that to happen, it has do with the state's legislation.\n\nand just to let you know to the person that answered before me, you can vote when you're 18.  it's the law that you can
708146
Why not...if 18 is old enough to get sent to Iraq seems like it's old enough to have a Budweiser.
940625
I don't know.  Of course, graduates of military academies are required to serve after graduation..I think five years is the requirement.  What I do know is that many military recruiters are paying the fees for high school dropouts to take the GED needed to join. (Primarily Army.)  My guess is that other than officers, the general military population is not comprised of our best and brightest.  For the dropouts who left high school for behavioral problems, that doesn't speak too well for the caliber of the military either.
73837
Its a united states law that you have to be 21... doesnt matter what city your in, if your drinking in this country, you must be 21. (with the exceptions in some states that say that if you are married to someone over 21, they can legally purchase alcohol for you or if your with a parent and youre over 18 they can legally purchase it also)
378700
I dont' feel there really is an official age.  You could 18 because its when the US government has classified someone is no long a minor, but if you go to somewhere else in the world the age would be different.  \n\nIf you want a 'official' per the government answer, I'd say 18 as thats when someone is no longer a minor.  But think about it, you can vote, join the army and die for the country but the government wont let you go buy a beer after a hard day.  Seem logical?  Not to me.  \n\nThe US is also in the minority when it comes to a stiff and high drinking age.  Kids start drinking wine at dinner at young ages in other countries and are even allowed in bars, sometimes before they are even 14 or 16.  Those countries also don't have the problems with 'under age' drinking, drunk drivers, and binge drinking by minors that we do.  Just goes to show what a little trust and freedom can do when you don't put an 'official' age on when a person is an adult.
523534
Having a drink or a cigarette is one thing; getting "messed up" is a foolish thing to do. Why would a teenager have a drink? Drinking is an adult thing, and teenagers are constantly working on asserting the independence that they so desire. The independence craving part is a good thing because they are learning to become self-sufficient adults. The one drink is not so relevant; it just happens to be one way of manifesting their growing up. Why do some teenagers get "messed up"? Either their reign at home is too tight so they are having trouble asserting their independence, so when the opportunity arises, "all gates flood open." Or, that is the example they have from people they look up to, often their families. You can help by setting an example that it's "cool" to keep one's composure.
1025539
Thats totally not true, I know me and ten of my friends can't wait until we're old enough to join, we've all been talking to recruiters for months now, but we're only sixteen, so a few more years and all of us are gonna join either the Marines or the Army.
589378
You might be interested in a UK perspective: in the UK, you may legally drink alcohol from the age of 5 - i.e. you may be given alcohol to drink by your parents etc. in your own home etc.\n\nYou may not drink alcohol in a pub or restuarant until you're 18 (or 16 if it's with a meal).\n\nYou may not buy alcohol until you're 18.\n\nIt's interesting that the US has such (from my point of view) restrictive laws on the subject - particularly because you might think that all 18-21 year olds, when given the chance to vote, would try to change the law. I suppose it is the apathy of young voters (which is an issue in the UK too) which means that 18-21 year olds punch below their weight when it comes to politics.\n\nI personally don't buy the 'your brain isn't developed until you're 21' argument, and I can definitely sympathise with the 'if you can die for your country, you should be able to drink'. Although you could presumably extend the argument to practically anything that might cause harm to you but that doesn't harm anyone else.
1093359
Yes, the only thing you are not allowed to do at the age of 18 is drink.  You may join the armed forces, decide who is to be leader of the country, have sex with as many people as you want...but you can't have one beer.  Tell me how much sense that makes.
998191
you are plenty young to go to college and plenty old to get something more out of it. sometimes if too young you fritter away the learning opportunity and waste college years in drunken parties. AVOID THAT. Go to college, start with Comm college if need be, and work hard, study well, get As and improve your self. get student grants and loans and campus job or work at Mc dees to get by Try to find a friend or relative to help you get theorugh with lodging or whatever.\nOR join the army and take a chance on the cannon fodder lottery. they will teach you well and give you a career, if you live hrough it. Odds are you will. Try to get into the USAF. few of them die in combat.
48951
you are not registering for military service that is completely different, what every man 18 years of age has to register for is the selective service.\nbig difference.\ngo to your local post office and they can square you away.
866031
no there's no way to get a grant to boot camp in the military he can go in at 17 like i did parents consent with a diploma. hes gonna be in jail sooner or later. i lived in nc for 5 years while i was in the navy try going to the local probation officers offices and get him into the scared straight program . that where they go to jail for the weekend.
134866
The same logic that allows an 18 to go to war, but not to drink until they are 21. It's retarded, my daughter had the same deal when she was 18. It's asinine.
610033
It's called the age of majority. No, it is not legal in all 50 states. Infact, pertaining to firearms and liquor, it is ONLY a possibility in Louisiana. Now, as for emancipation (where a minor becomes independent of his/her parents), that is possible in ALL 50 states. They still may not purchase controlled substances OR vote until they are of the age mandated by the state. However, they are legally responsible for all of their own actions, financial commitments, etc.