How does military enlistment age compare to the drinking age?

I'm curious about the ages for enlisting in the military versus the legal drinking age. Is it true that you can enlist before legally being able to drink alcohol? Why is it set up like this?

Yes, it is indeed true that the age of military enlistment in the United States is younger than the legal drinking age. The minimum age for enlistment in the U.S. military is 17 with parental consent or 18 without consent. For the legal drinking age, it is set at 21 nationwide.

The discrepancy in age limits is based on entirely different considerations. The age of 18 is generally considered the age of majority in the United States, where a person is legally recognized as an adult. This includes responsibilities such as the ability to vote, sign contracts, and enlist in the military. In essence, society has decided that at 18, individuals are mature enough to take on these obligations.

Meanwhile, the drinking age is set at 21 primarily due to public health and safety concerns. The decision to raise the drinking age to 21 was rooted in statistical evidence suggesting that traffic fatalities decreased when the drinking age increased. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public possession of alcohol age to 21 or risk losing federal highway funds.

These different ages reflect societal decisions about when individuals are mature enough for certain responsibilities. It's also a topic of ongoing debate among some lawmakers, policy analysts, and citizens.