Not sure. What do you think?

I think the military should have to follow whatever the local laws are. So, in the middle east where alcohol is banned, no one can drink! In most of the rest of the world, 18. In the US they must wait until 21. That is just my opinion :)

If they're old enough to step in front of a bullet, they get a pretty damn long leash from me to do anything legal for someone a couple years older than them (even some stuff that may be illegal for the rest of us ;) Good Q

WHt is legal AGE IN MIDDLEEASSTT?

nope. but some bases now, and the base i am on, does. The rule is 20 here. But I say no, because marines have a TERRIBLE reputation for getting drunk and getting into trouble. If they were more responsible, I'd say sure. But records show they AREN"T. I'm pretty bitter about it right now because recently some drunk stupid marines got into some trouble and stole a car and trespassed and raped a 14 year old japanese girl, and now ALL military/civilian americans are being punished. No one is allowed to leave the base at all, and if you live off-base, you have to stay in your home and you can't go anywhere! No shopping, no going out to eat, no nothing! you can only drive to base and back. This is in international news. I'll be back with links. I'm pretty pissed off about it.

I think they should be able to drink anywhere really if they have an Active Duty Military ID. I remember being allowed to enter strip clubs while being underage but enlisted. And we were allowed to drink. That was in the early '90's. But I do understand where people are coming from about the concept of "When in Rome". However, as far as I know, military bases are federally owned properties and maybe they should at least be able to drink on base at the NCO club or something like that.

No. The reasons the U.S. drinking age is 21 does is not altered or off-set by military service. It has to do with both physical maturity and decision making. I support giving military service members all kinds of benefits and services, but this one just doesn't make sense. Edited---- While I still think it is a bad idea for many reasons, I thought this was interesting - there is some politcal support for it: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/IntheNews/UnderageDrinking/1116637129.html

If they're dumb enough to join the military under the age of 21, then letting them have alcohol is definitely not a good idea.

No. The law is 21. What does being in the military have to do with it? Does that give you immunity against laws or something?

I presume you are talking US Military. Other countries don't have the puritanical 21 year old laws or 18 year old laws that some member here claim. You tell someone to die for your country and then tell him/her to kill for your country, then tell them they can not have a beer. That is insane and innane.

It should depend on the laws of the country they are in, and whether or not they are on duty / about to be. It's reckless to be drunk while on military duty IMO... (and obviously illegal to drink while under-aged in the country you're in). Being in the military changes nothing aside from responsibilities in regards to when you're on duty.

If a person fights day and night 24-7 thousands of miles away from home defending our freedom working there butt off dont you think they should be able to come home and enjoy a beer!! yea!!!

That brings up an interesting point: Is good enough to fight, protect and give the life for the country also good enough to enter the bar and drink? I don't advocate drinking however, but I am curious as to the implications of this questions.

no

As a memeber myself and a Wino, i think if i can stop a terrorist bullet why whouldnt i be able to order a beer at dinner??

Absolutely. If you're old enough to fight for our country...have a beer on me!

If your old enough to serve and die for your country you should have the right to drink if you want.

As a point of order, I'm in the US military. (Though only the Air Force). Calm down folks, we AF enlisted have tendencies for being smart A@@ss, I'm just kidding with you all. My point is this, I don't think people under 21 should be able to join the military. I agree in and believe in public service, (*Read Richard Heinlein's Starship Troopers for a much more elequent version then anything I could post here*). But I think that decision, and the very real consequences that can come with, are grave enough to justify raising the legal age of enlistment to 21. Unfortunately, the demographics for such an idea would never bear out. While the AF has actually seen the average age of its enlistment force rise, both the Marines and the Army would probably have difficulty meeting their manning shortfalls. *(That stuff about getting money for college, not lying)* Just food for thought.

I am serving in the Air Force Security Forces and am being deployed to Baghdad, Iraq on July 5th of this year. I am 20 years old and will turn 21 shortly before I am scheduled to DEROS. My fiance is 22. My biggest thing about where I live, Metro-East St. Louis area, is that almost every establishment that she and her friends like to frequent are very strict about not letting anyone under 21 enter; and some won't even allow anyone to stay there if they are not drinking as well. This bothers me for two reasons: 1)Drinking and gambling aside, if I'm old enough to go off and fight and possibly die for my country, why the hell can I not simply go somewhere and take her to have a good time. 2)By not allowing me to go with her and her friends I am in a constant state of worry about people severly under the influence getting behind the wheel; although she never drives after more than 3 drinks. The establishments are indirectly promoting drunken driving. I honestly believe that anyone under 21 who is serving in the military should be able to do anything that someone who is not serving would be able to simply because they are 21 or older. With that said there is also another thing to say. While individuals serving in the military who areunder 21 should be allowed to drink, anyone who meets that criteria can go anywhere someone who doesn't serve can go if they are 21, drink alcohol, and yes even gamble. However, anyone who is serving in the military and is under 21 has a strict, zero-tolerance BAC limit of 0.00 while being in control of a motor vehicle. Honestly, the rise in the ammount of DUIs can be related to the weakening of today's court systems. Most people can plea-bargain their DUI tickets down to simple neglegance, thust being allowed back on the road legally in sometimes less than 6 months. I've been in contact with people who should have had over a dozen DUI convictions, but they plea-ed them down. Simply put, anyone under 21 who is in the military should be able to drink, however they should'nt be able to be above 0.00 behind the wheel. Just my thoughts.

I think that if your old enough to go over a fight for our country and be shot at and see your fellow soldiers sot and killed you should be able to come home and have a beer to forget about it.

If a soldier is 18+ and is on a US military base in another country, s/he should be able to drink. S/he will have to make a constructive decision on whether or not s/he wants alcohol in her/his life, soon anyway. If s/he is in uniform and is in the US, then s/he is an adult. S/he should have all the responsibilities and pleasures of being an adult. S/he should be allowed to go to bars and drink if she is a legal adult.