What age is the right age to drink, drive, or enlist?

This post at The Volokh Conspiracy about the appropriate age to consent to sex, generic viagra sick get an abortion without permission, viagra capsule drink, treat or drive elicited the following comment:

“Age to enlist, commit your life for five years (or more due to Stop-Loss), and die for your country serving in Iraq: 18

Age to drink a cold beer on a hot day: 21”

But what the commenter doesn’t understand is that the reason we allow enlistment at 18 is because only the very young are foolish enough to think they are invincible and can’t be killed…which is the exact same reason we DON’T let them drink at the same age.

1 comment April 25th, 2008