A Plea to Change the Drinking Age to 18 -- with Additional Rules

Back in August 1991 I returned to the United States after a 10 month deployment to Iraq. Unfortunately I was unable to "celebrate" because my 21st birthday wasn't until October. Tell me how it's fair where one can vote for the man who runs the country, go to war, among other things but can't have a drink? Go ahead, lower it to 18 but have stipulations. If these young adults violate these rules then give them an enhanced ID card that prohibits the consumption of alcohol back to 21. If we continue to hold these people back, as a commenter mentioned earlier, binge drinking will occur and the problems will continue.

When I was young the drinking age was 18. It makes no sense to me that it was raised to 21! Kids were still drinking at the bowling alley and local bars at 15-16 years old. Also it seems most arrests in my local paper (Times of Wayne County - LOL) are in the 25-55 age group for DWI. So where's the logic? I would like to see it lowered to 18 for all the reasons stated in other comments. Maybe a "permit" issued at 18 with restrictions such as no "hard liquor", beer or wine only, at a store no purchases later than 8 pm, hand stamped at a bar or club indicating age-and no serving alcohol after 10 pm. I think most kids would agree you should be able to have a beer at your graduation party, considering you must register with selective service, register to vote, and take on other "adult" responsibilities at this age. I think the more you restrict kids, the more likely they are to binge and act like kids. We want them to act like adults at 18. We should allow them to make the adult decision to drink responsibly at 18 if they so choose. Of course, all stated is just my opinion.

I have always said that if an American can defend and die for his or her country they should be able the buy and drink alcohol. You shouldn't be able to say you are old enough and mature enough to vote but not responsable enough to drink a beer? America is one of the most hippocritical countries in the world when it come to our laws which for the most part are driven by insurance companies. Not that I would rather live anywhere else I'm just stating my opinion.

How about not selling alcoholic beverages at the *GAS STATION* until 2:00 in the morning?!?