I was going to post when I first saw this assignment, but I wanted to try to get my thoughts in some kind of structure before then. I had so much going through my mind about it.

So, I think that 19 would be a good age if the legal drinking age is ever lowered. Here are my arguments:

1. I agree that if someone is old enough to fight for this country they should be able to legally have a beer. On side notes of this, all military has a boot camp, basic training, speciality training, etc. to go through first, so by having the age at 19 instead of 18 (for those that argue 18), the military really aren't missing much. For anyone in the military they'd understand that usually by the time they can relax and have a beer, they're 19 anyways.

2. Second to that, it creates seperation between the military men and women at the 21 year old cutoff. And college for that matter, which is what creates the argument to lower the age in the first place. In some states, you have to be 21 just to enter the bar or club, so they are cut out of any unit activities that may be ina restrictive place.

It's also strange to have a 20 year old higher ranking Soldier unable to have a drink, yet lower ranking ones can because of their age. Creates kind of a discrepency........ wierd, that's all.

3. The reason the age won't be lowered (I suppose) is because it will allow those in HIGH SCHOOL that are 18 to be drinking. This will have an effect on any of the parties that they attend, where we all know that there are plenty of underclassmen, and well under 18 there. By bringing it to 19, 98% of those that would be able to drink are already at the college level, so it will at least eliminate the SENIORS from bringing in the booze. (Not to say that their 19 year old friend won't be buying it, but that's another story.)

4. It would save money in the court system. Most first time underage offenders receive some kind of petty fine, or a community service sentence. Why should the courts be wasting their time on so many of these? Lower the drinking age, but make the penalties for underage drinking stiffer.

Examples:

Caught ONCE: No license until age 21, regardless of whether there was driving involved.

Caught Twice: Jail time. Even juvie for the youngest ones.

Caught on campus underage: (with my proposal, anyone under 19): expulsion.

There is no doubt that there are plenty of 19 and 20 year olds who are too immature to be drinking, but then again, look at the 30 year old morons who made a life of it. It doesn't matter what age you start, it still has the same effect when you drink- stupidity.

But I think there is so much psychological game out of it: If someone is told they can't have it, they want it more. Which of course encourages underage binge drinking, etc.

So bring it down to 19 for a year. If this doesn't help the drunk driving related incidents, drinking incident, etc, bring it back to 21.