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| The U.S. Marine Corps versus Mothers Against Drunk Drivers |
| 2007-11-13 |
| The U.S. Marine Corps versus Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. That will be a battle. And it should be. A dispute currently pits the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California, against MADD. The Corps wants Marines serving under the age of 21 to have the right to consume alcoholic beverages. MADD is steadfastly opposed, and is spear-heading efforts to block the Corps from accomplishing this feat. The issue at the heart of this confrontation extends far beyond the base limits of Camp Pendleton and the borders of California. It needs to be addressed nationally, and as soon as possible for the benefit of the men and women serving in all the U.S. Armed Forces. MADD is misguided. Military men and women of any age have earned the right to assume the privileges of adulthood by their demonstrated levels of courage, commitment, sacrifice and responsibility. Denial of the legal consumption of alcohol to those in uniform under the age of 21 is preposterous and disrespectful, especially because a large share of those in the U.S. Armed Forces are between the ages of 18 and 21. It is time for the hypocrisy of the current system to end. It is time for federal -- not state and local -- legislation to be enacted to permit present and former military service members -- including active duty, Reserve and National Guard members under the age of 21 -- to be able to show a valid military ID to be served or to purchase alcohol. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #29 Yeah, right. We have a group of young, strong, intelligent men and women who with the help of God are delivering this nation out of the grip of evil, praying that God keeps them safe, while a bunch of older types are trying to shove a bottle of mind numbing liquor into their hands back home, which could result in alcohol related tragedies on the street could wreck their reputations for life... Way to go, old boys!!!!!! |
| Posted by: Don Vito Shens6025 2007-11-13 23:17 |
| #28 hawh, a guy used fake military ID to drink, and when he turned 21 he went from 26 to 21 on his ID and the bartender couldn't do anything about it. The bar like all of those military types though keeping out the riff raff, protecting their bar. |
| Posted by: Jan from work 2007-11-13 21:19 |
| #27 Wawsn't this what changed the drinking age in most states to 18 back in the late sixties / early seventies? I am all for letting active duty men under 21 drink, and wherever they damn well please. The maturity difference of most of these individuals is so far above their age group it is astonishing (well, no, actually it isn't). Screw MADD. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2007-11-13 19:11 |
| #26 uh, how about auto bartender.... |
| Posted by: McCoy 2007-11-13 19:03 |
| #25 If you don't like your law, then get your law changed. Violating it and being disrespectful of it is not suitable mentoring for your 18 year old buddies. Personally, some of the 18 year olds I know are not mature enough to drive responsibly and and some are not mature enough to drink responsibly, so anything that may allow a combination of the two is a tragic mistake. My 19 year old got an underage drinking charge (not driving) here in Pennsylvania a couple of months ago. It cost him $430 in fines and court costs and he lost his driver's license for 90 days. It was a tough lesson, but it was one he needed. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2007-11-13 16:45 |
| #24 Rambler: only the stupid ones drive home while under the influence. the smart ones get a room ( or something) So far the Armed Forces hasn't figured out a test to keep the dumb ones out; although many of them opt for a career as a (D) politician. And if they did have a stupid filtration test, the SPCA would be on them like white on rice. |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2007-11-13 16:39 |
| #23 We don't check age, just membership or active duty ID at the VFW and Legion hall. And trust me, if one of those young ones is back from ashcanistan or the sandbox or even a tour up on the DMZ in Korea, he can drink all he wants in our halls. The old hands will get him home safely. Was that way when I was young, will be that way when I am dust. We vets look after our own. I beleive that active duty military service and age 18 are all that is needed for drinking age. After all, they start a lot younger in Germany and other places. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-11-13 16:22 |
| #22 USN, that sort of thing can be a problem. I grew up in Pennsylvania where the drinking age was 21, and at the time the drinking age in New York was 18. Lots of kids would drive the 20 miles to NY. Unfortunately, not all of them made it home. Letting the Marines (or soldiers or sailors) drink on base alleviates this problem. They can walk, stagger or take a cab back to the barracks. If the MPs catch them driving, they will (and should) face serious consequences. |
| Posted by: Rambler 2007-11-13 16:13 |
| #21 Sailors here at NAS Whidbey have been known to actually get into their cars and drive the approximately 80 miles to the Canadian border; several little 'burbs around Vancouver have excellent bars and CA chicks like the Yanks. Been to several event to race and all my single teammates 'disappear' but return in the morning, crawling, but smiling. (maybe its not just the beer) |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2007-11-13 14:51 |
| #20 no one said that they would be made too drink at the base bar. the problem is if they should choose too then they should be allowed too and not get into trouble unless breaking A law. and that DAMM comment was hoot |
| Posted by: sinse 2007-11-13 14:41 |
| #19 #2: Actually, passing some sort of "maturity test" before one can drink sounds like a good idea to me. You mean, something like being in the Armed Services? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-11-13 14:26 |
| #18 Military service was one of the reasons the voting age was dropped from 21 to 18. The argument was that if a man was old enough to fight, he should be old enough to vote. After that, they raised the drinking age from 18 to 21 nationwide. MADD should be renamed MAAD - mothers against all drinking. |
| Posted by: Rambler 2007-11-13 13:21 |
| #17 I'm willing to buy beer for any 18 year old Marine. Consider it a "thank you" for keeping me safe. |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2007-11-13 12:00 |
| #16 I dunno man. A lot of young folks get into the military to get away from destructive influences in the hood. How does drinking at 18 at the base bar help improve a young life, who so far has made the right move in every other way? |
| Posted by: Don Vito Shens6025 2007-11-13 11:49 |
| #15 Pendelton is a US Military rteservation, not part of California. State drinking laws mean diddly-squat on-base. |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-11-13 11:12 |
| #14 not become alchoholics like so many I've seen. Troll alert! More John Kerry creative stereotyping. Just how many have you really associated with who were not part of the old draft era? That old image went out the window in the 80s along with the personnel who were alcoholics. The Army instituted a zero tolerance on DUI, a quick career ender. People might medicate themselves after they got out, but the 'happy hours' at the Senior NCO and O clubs went decades ago. Just who are you associating with McCoy? Obviously not the men and women I've had the privilege of serving with. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-11-13 10:59 |
| #13 smoke dope, its something most military people should do once in a while. not become alchoholics like so many I've seen. |
| Posted by: Claique McCoy1045 2007-11-13 10:30 |
| #12 The federal mandates effect state transportation funds. It doesn't effect themselves. Nice loophole. DoD, by policy, directs [but not 'orders' in the legal sense] commanders of installations to mimic local laws for 'good community' purposes. That is why the consumption of alcohol is restricted as in the general community. Back in the old days [80-90s], the installation commanders had the authority to grant exceptions to the policy. This by custom was usually reserved for the annual anniversary recognition of the unit, 'Unit Birthday'. This entails a request from the subordinate commander along with specification of proper supervision and provision made for sober transportation subsequently for those who participate. Since consequences of DUI or serious injury had very real repercussion upon the subordinate commander, the proper checks and balances were sure to be in place and enforced. MADDs simply display themselves as fanatics who are just irrational as any fanatics in any cause. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-11-13 09:01 |
| #11 Argh, hit submit too soon. Possession of one ounce (28.5 gms) or less is punishable by a maximum $100 fine; Any minor (age under 21) convicted of a marijuana, alcohol, or other drug offense faces a 12-month drivers license suspension, regardless of whether the offense was driving-related. So kiddies, smoke dope and save $150. /CA legislsture |
| Posted by: ed 2007-11-13 08:16 |
| #10 (California) Possession of one ounce (28.5 gms) or less is punishable by a maximum $100 fine; Underage individuals who purchase, attempt to purchase, or consume an alcoholic beverage will receive a minimum $250 fine and/or at least 24 hours of community service, in addition to their driving privileges suspended or delayed for 1 year. Guess which of the two CA lawmakers are encouraging young folks to do? |
| Posted by: ed 2007-11-13 08:13 |
| #9 This is how it is here in TN. Military are legal despite their age. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-11-13 08:09 |
| #8 Heh. Kinda Heinleinesque, but let's say that enlisting with the armed services (including Coast Guard) grants the person the right to alcoholic drink, regardless of age. Rather like national service was required for the franchise in Starship Troopers. Or, maybe, we can get MADD to admit that just maybe they should focus on the problem drivers and not just restricting access to alcohol. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-11-13 07:24 |
| #7 The way that MADD sold the national 21 drinking age was to show statistics for drunk driving. Obviously, 20 and under can't hold their booze, so they got most of the DWIs. Thus, a national drinking age of 21 would solve the problem. Friend of mine's grandfather was killed by a 16-year-old drunk driver. |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-11-13 07:14 |
| #6 [Aris Katsaris has been pooplisted.] |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2007-11-13 07:12 |
| #5 We need to contact DAMM - Drunks Against Mad Mothers. |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2007-11-13 06:13 |
| #4 Old enough to risk their lives for USA, but not old enough to drink? Gimme a break! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2007-11-13 05:57 |
| #3 Could they federally allow them to drink only at on-base bars? I know many bases have restaurants and bars there. It could shut MADD up and offer a perk to those signing up at the same time. It should also be carried over to allow them to drink at overseas bases as well, if the legal age is 21 in country. |
| Posted by: NOLA 2007-11-13 04:01 |
| #2 Actually, passing some sort of "maturity test" before one can drink sounds like a good idea to me. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-11-13 03:39 |
| #1 The founder of MADD lost her license awhile back for driving drunk. Hypocrite comes to mind. That said its a snake pit of a fight. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-11-13 02:44 |