Thesis: Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered for Soldiers?

Thesis: Should the drinking age be lowered for soldiers?

Intro: Bang! Bang! Bang! That is the sound of battle. Soldiers have been fighting all day, friends have died and others are wounded. When they return back to base it is expected, to go to the bar and have a couple drinks to relieve stress from the exhausting day and from the loss of fellow soldiers. But not all who serve the United States of America can do that, because of the law on the drinking age. That raises the question to anyone; should the drinking age be lowered for soldiers?

I. The statement that has been around since the Vietnam era is: If you're old enough to die for your country, then you're old enough to drink.

a. Vote

i. To decide who is going to best run this country a better direction

b. Marriage

c. Sign Contracts

i. Serve Military

1. Some for 4 years or eight like what I'm doing

ii. Student loans

1. Which could end a young person's career before he/she starts

d. Buy tobacco

e. Move out and live on your own

II. Responsibility

a. Well-structured in the military

i. Chain of command

1. Taking orders

ii. Warrior ethos

1. What soldiers live by

b. Driving Tanks, Humvee's

c. Shooting and killing enemies

III. Con

a. If the state lowers drinking age for soldiers then they lose federal funding of highways

i. Brains not fully developed

1. Then why do we let them join the army? Why do we prosecute them as adults? Why do we put them out on the streets to find their own way?

This was a big deal during Vietnam when the rally cry was "Old enough to serve, old enough to drink" as well as "Old enough to serve, old enough to vote". As a former service member, I know of no one who ever refused an under 21 soldier a beer at an informal social gathering. At base clubs, however, the rule was mostly enforced. Off-post clubs often served all military, and it was quite obvious who was military, regardless of age.

Read more: Should the drinking age for US Soldiers be dropped to 18? Many of them never see their 21st Birthday | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/397685#ixzz1kRBNb7JW