There has been much discussion over the years about what the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) should be. Many people have said that mlda should be lowered at age 18. The main reason they support lowering it is because 18 year olds are considered adults and have many privileges that come with that, such as the right to vote and smoking. , but they cannot drink. People who support the mlda are kept to 21 years and use scientific studies to prove their points. I think the mlda should be kept at 21 but there should be an exemption for enlisted military. Some groups such as the Amethyst Initiative (AI), which is a group of college presidents, have called for a discussion about mlda (Teens at Risk). Some of the reasons they use to lower it are that 18 year olds can be reported, married, join the army and smoke but can't drink. Another example they use is that in other countries like Germany the drinking age is 18. Some people believe that by lowering the drinking age, young people will be less likely to binge drink because “students adapt their level of drinking to the perceived norm” of their parents (Ackleh et al). AI Proponents believe that by lowering the drinking age students would be less likely to observe high levels of alcohol consumption, such as at a private party on campus, and therefore infer that responsible drinking is the norm (Ackleh et al). Although the people who advocate lowering the mlda have some good points, their theories are very suspect. One of the points they get right is that college students should binge drink less and practice moderation when they drink. The reason I call AI and other proponents of theories about lowering the drinking age suspect is because there is little evidence at the college level... middle of paper... old enough to die for your country, you are old enough to drink”; I think that's correct because people who are in the military volunteer and are willing to risk their lives to protect the country and the people in it. The military culture is very different from the outside because it is more rigorous and disciplined in the way things are done. Additionally, if a person enlists and is overseas, they will be able to drink, but once they return to the United States, they will not be able to. In conclusion, the debate over what the legal minimum age for drinking alcohol is will always be a hotly debated topic. Many things will always influence the debate among supporters of maintaining 21 mlda using studies that show how alcohol affects the normal development of the body. How history can help guide us on what changes they can cause.