While On Life's Journey.....

MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
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Dear MAx,
I recently took my little brother out to celebrate him joining the military. He is 19 and I am so proud that he made this choice. That said, I am confused that by the end of that evening he ended up with a ticket for minor in possession of alcohol, and I ended up with a charge of providing alcohol to a minor! How can this be that my brother can risk his life for our country and defending our rights, but he can’t drink?

Brad

Dear Brad,
Thanks for asking the drinking age question for your brother’s generation. I think every generation since the 1930s has been asking the same question: “why can someone die for their country, but can’t have a beer?”

As I reviewed historical documents for legal drinking age prior to the 1960’s, information seemed to be a little fuzzy. A quick summary of the information I reviewed seemed to seriously address the legal age of drinking during prohibition, the eighteenth and twenty-first amendments, and traffic data related to alcohol related accidents. In 1984 President Reagan signed a bill establishing 21 years old as a nationwide legal drinking age.

It was the documentation leading up to the 60’s that the answer to the question only got louder and more complicated. Of course, we need to remember that the 1960’s started an era of people speaking out, not going along with the “norm”, and not only asking “why”, but “why not”, way more then previous generations. Back then your question came up in regards to the Viet Nam Conflict: If a man (or woman) can die for his country at 18, why can’t he have an alcoholic drink?

This question, in fact, comes up whenever there is a war or conflict going on in the world. And, there is always something going on somewhere in the world where Americans are called upon to risk their lives.

The reality is that American adulthood starts at the age of 18 because: (1) everyone gets the right to vote; (2) everyone is eligible for jury duty; and, (3) young men need to register for the Selective Service. So, people, at 18 years of age are trusted to participate in the electorial process, judge due process, and go to war.

Here is your question, again, Brad: Why can’t my 19 year old brother who is volunteering to serve his country have alcohol?

Let’s address the other reason sited in my research for keeping 21 as the legal drinking age: traffic data related to alcohol related accidents:

The most recent US data confirms that 12/8% of fatal traffic accidents were alcohol-related. And, 40% of those fatal accidents involved teens driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Statistics also show that one out of ten teens between the ages of 12 and 13 drink alcohol at least once per month. They are still drinking (probably more) when they get their drivers license at 16.
In Europe, where the drinking age is lower, and the age to get a license is higher, the incident rate of alcohol-related fatal accidents are not as great a problem.

Recent brain research has provided better understanding of an adolescence brain functioning. This research supports the idea that a 16 year old’s cognitive abilities might not support the functions needed to safely operate a motor vehicle. Add alcohol, a fast car, and a loud radio, and you have a recipe for disaster.

This may lead you to contemplate what the problem really is: drinking at an early age, or driving at an early age? Maybe we need to consider having better information about the use of alcohol available earlier, and raise the age and requirements for having a drivers license?
There is good news, and, a possible solution: as a US citizen everyone 18 years and older is empowered to change things with the right to vote. Perhaps, instead of asking “why” the age is 18, ask “why not” change the age to 21? Use YOUR right to vote.

Finally, Brad, I want to thank you for supporting your brother’s decision to volunteer to be in the military. Because of men and women like him, we are empowered to vote, and, I get to exercise my right to express myself through a free press.

Both you and your brother be well on your journey.

Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.