Bill Would Lower GI Drinking Age to 18

[Kaymara]

Now I remember when Rod and I met you could be in the military and drink beer on base legally. Then they revoked that.

Bill Would Lower GI Drinking Age to 18
Stars and Stripes | Leo Shane III | November 29, 2005
WASHINGTON — A New Hampshire lawmaker wants to lower the drinking age for active-duty military members to 18, making New Hampshire the second state to consider such Legislation this year.

State Rep. James Splaine, D-Portsmouth, said his new bill would show servicemembers the respect they deserve for their work in the military.

“It seems hypocritical that we expect people to be able to make life or death decisions in Iraq, but in New Hampshire they don’t have the right or privilege to be able to drink,” he said.

This summer, Wisconsin state Rep. Mark Pettis, R-Hertel, introduced a bill to drop the $500 fine for underage drinking to just $10 for servicemembers. Half of that fine would go into a veterans support fund, and would effectively allow young troops to drink at any bar in the state.

Earlier this month, a Wisconsin House committee approved the bill 7-2. Officials from Pettis’ office said the next step is a vote before the full House, but no timetable has been set for that.

Pettis had crafted the $10 fine as a way to skirt federal drinking age minimums but still protect the state’s more than $50 million in federal highway funds, which could have been revoked if the federal age minimum of 21 was repealed even in part.

Splaine said he will seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the New Hampshire bill to preserve the state’s federal funding and allow the drinking exception.

“It’s not as much of an issue here because New Hampshire has already given up many of those (federal highway) funds,” he said. “We have no motorcycle helmet requirement, and no seatbelt law requirement, so they’ve taken away some funding for that.”

Splaine, who did not serve in the military, was the primary sponsor of the bill which raised New Hampshire’s drinking age to 21 in the early 1980s. He hopes that legislative history will give his new proposal more credibility among critics.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has already lobbied against both the Wisconsin and New Hampshire measures. Splaine said he expects a hearing on his bill in late January.

Defense Department rules require that all U.S. military facilities follow the 21 drinking age, but overseas bases can drop their drinking age as low as 18 based on their host country’s laws. Base commanders also can set the limit at 21, regardless of the foreign laws, at their discretion.

General Order Number 1, in effect in Iraq and Afghanistan, prohibits the “introduction, possession, sale, transfer, manufacture or consumption of any alcoholic beverage” while in the combat zone.

[ash]

i think that is a good idea. I feel like they are forced to grow up faster than the average 18 year old and the laws should follow as such. I however, like the idea in Wisconsin more becuase the 10 dollars makes the servicepeople think twice before they make the decision to drink

[Kat]

Hell, you can sign up to die for your country I think you deserve a damn beer!!!!! To say the least

[MW5M]

Originally Posted by Kat Hell, you can sign up to die for your country I think you deserve a damn beer!!!!! To say the least

I agree 100%

[ETHubby & 2 Kids]

WOW!
I guess that is good for those who want to drink. They can fight and die for our country why not give them the right to drink

[Jennygirl]

My question would be...If they lower it everywhere to be 18, and they leave base DRUNK AS A SKUNK and kill someone and get pulled over for DUI, do you think they should be punished as much as a civilain?

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Kat Hell, you can sign up to die for your country I think you deserve a damn beer!!!!! To say the least

Agreed


and Jennygirl, yes...they should be punished as a civilian, but of legal drinking age per the bill. Drinking at that age would be a privilege and if the individual was stupid enough to leave the base drunk driving, then they should be prosecuted to the fullest for DUI

[harrisonsdream]

i've said that for a long time, but something one of ya'll said sort of made me think, if a good reason for them to get to drink at 18 is because they had to grow up so fast what about the other young men and women in our country that had to do the same? shouldn't they get the same right?
sorry ya'll just trying to be a devil's advocate. feel free to ignore if you want

[Kym]

I guess I am the only one that thinks it should stay 21. I have seen how these kids act on base when sober and I sure as hell don't want to see how they are after drinking. No one forced them to sign the dotted line so I guess I don't agree with the statement "I feel like they are forced to grow up faster than the average 18 year old and the laws should follow as such" because no one "FORCED" them to join the military. I HAVE seen first hand how these 17,18,19 year old kids act since dh use to work at a BEQ. It will be a crying shame if the law is passed IMO

[Lilithdrff]

I don't think it really matters, I know my husband was drinking in quantities long before he hit 18.
But I do agree with the "if they can sign up to die for their country, they deserve some beer" part.