On Monday, Democrat Barack Obama promised Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans he'd listen to and help solve their problems. But he stopped shy of solving some of their inabilities to purchase alcohol.
Soldiers under the age of 21 have grieved since 1984 - when the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed - of the irony of being able to fight and die for their country, but not being able to celebrate their successful mission with a few beers when they return...at least not legally.
Obama's response to the ridiculous policy was: "I know it drives you nuts. But I'm not going to lower the drinking age."
Obama went on to tell veterans that he sympathized with their predicament, but argued that setting the legal
drinking age at 21 had helped reduce drunken driving incidents and
should remain.
Professor Ruth Engs at Indiana University disagrees with Obama. On her website, the health sciences professor argues that the declines in drunken driving accidents actually started in 1980, seven years before passage of the national law which mandated states to have 21 year old alcohol purchase laws.
Engs believes that the decrease in drinking and driving problems are the result of many factors and not just the rise in purchase age or the decreased per capita consumption. These include: education concerning drunk driving, designated driver programs, increased seat belt and air bag usage, safer automobiles, lower speed limits, tougher penalties for infractions, and free taxi services from drinking establishments.
Engs goes on to discuss the wave of binge drinking on college campuses, which actually increased after the passage of the law. She argues that alcohol has become the forbidden fruit that young college students are drawn to, predominately because it is forbidden.
Whether or not you believe Engs, it's hard to argue that all men and women in uniform don't deserve a beer, or even a keg, for their service to the country.