Another angle: does lowering the drinking age decrease binge drinking? Wisconsin's

[ucsd_ucla_dad]

<p>

It is ridiculous that an 18 year old can be drafted and forced into battle but cannot buy a beer at a pub

I don’t dispute the premise of the argument but in fact, there have been no 18 y/o drafted into the military in this country and forced into battle in a very long time - well before the drinking age went to 21.</p>

<p>However, this doesn’t dispute the fact that in the military the 18 y/o who voluntarily joined might be entrusted with a great deal of responsibility and handed under certain circumstances fully automatic weapons, grenades, battle vehicles to drive, etc. </p>

<p>I’ve read that some military bases have their own lower on-base drinking ages for military members to allow them to drink on-base in an effort to reduce drunk driving and maybe partially for the argument stated in the quote.
<a href=“http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/05/marine_alcohol_070511/[/url]”>http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/05/marine_alcohol_070511/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>However, here’s a quote from Obama. I don’t know if his opinion has changed -

Democrat Barack Obama on Monday promised Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans help with their grievances - save one.</p>

<p>“I know it drives you nuts. But I’m not going to lower the drinking age,” the presidential candidate said.</p>

<p>Army veteran Ernest Johnson, 23, of Connecticut, said one of the things that peeved him before he turned 21 was that he couldn’t come home and drink a beer - even though he was old enough to serve in the armed services and die for his country.</p>

<p>Obama told Johnson he sympathized, but that setting the legal drinking age at 21 had helped reduce drunken driving incidents and should remain.
…

<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/17/politics/main3946522.shtml[/url]”>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/17/politics/main3946522.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;