Underage Drinking For Military Personnel?

By: Maria Palma | Posted: 04th April 2008

This notion of allowing underage drinking for military personnel has stirred up quite a bit of talk between lawmakers the public. Should we allow military personnel under 21-years-old the privilege to drink? If the government has considered these individuals old enough to serve in the military and shoot guns at people, why not make it legal for them to drink? There are organizations like M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) who object to this idea, of course. They feel that these young people are just not mature or responsible enough.



For quite awhile now, lawmakers have been pushing for laws that allow military personnel under 21 to drink. Nowadays with the internet and information being able to spread faster, there have been people on online social networking sites collecting signatures to get a measure on the ballot which will lower age limit for military personnel.



Camp Pendleton, a marine military base just north of San Diego, California, has given permission for military personnel to drink on base. However, some business owners and residents have expressed their concerns. They have noticed more problems with drunk driving in the area around the base. Even though military personnel are permitted to drink on base, once they step off the base they fall under the 21 age limit law.



Many have argued the fact that it doesn't really matter what, people will find a way to circumvent the laws. I've seen teenagers pay people over 21 to go into the store and buy them a drink. Even in San Diego, a city next to the Mexico border, you'll often see thousands of underage people crossing the border to drink at the bars down there.



It all boils down to whether or not these young adults have the maturity level if they are given the opportunity to drink. It's up to them to take responsibility and learn the consequences of their actions. Perhaps if there was better education for younger people about the consequences of drunk driving, they would take it more seriously.



Maria Palma is a freelance writer committed to helping people with their San Diego DUI. Make sure to hire a professional and experienced San Diego DUI lawyer.
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Tags: business owners, notion, privilege, military personnel, signatures, teenagers, young adults, san diego california, better education, maturity level, guns, lawmakers, social networking sites, military base