Unified Age of Adulthood
Right now in these United States, our governments – national and state – treat certain “adults” as if they are not truly adults.
Let’s outline it, shall we?
At some age, usually anywhere between 16 and 18 depending on the State and circumstances, per this chart on 4Parents.gov, a person can legally consent to have sex.
At 18 years old, a person largely becomes a legal adult. In some areas, they have been legally able to consent to sex for two years. In other areas, they become legally able to consent to sex at the same time they become legally able to enter into any contract, join the military, or smoke tobacco.
However, it is not until age 21 that this ‘adult’ can legally purchase alcohol or engage in certain sexual behaviors such as exotic dancing. In most places, a person cannot legally choose to work in an establishment serving alcohol until this age either.
Some see this ‘graduated adulthood’ as a good thing. They see these ‘graduated’ freedoms as enhanced training before a person becomes fully an adult.
Quite simply, an adult is an adult, period. If a person is old enough to make a consensual decision to have sex, they are old enough to consent to enter into a legal contract, and they are old enough to choose for themselves whether or not to consume alcohol AND tobacco. THAT is why I want to see a unified age of adulthood. Each of these choices carry dramatic consequences, and if you are responsible enough to make one of them, you are responsible enough to make all of them.
Now, what should this unified age of adulthood be? Should it be one of the currently recognized ages? Somewhere in between? Higher even? Honestly, I’m open for debate on that one, and I’d love your input.
But if a man is old enough to decide for himself to go off and die for his country, he is old enough to decide for himself to get both wasted and laid the night before.
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August 10th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
In Georgia at age 17 you are criminally an adult. So you are mature enough to take responsibility for your actions if you rob a store, but your not mature enough to have full access to a custodial bank account until your 21. Another discrepancy in the law.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Eighteen is entirely too young for someone to go off to war to possibly be maimed or killed, yet they’re considered a criminal for drinking a beer… I agree with the drinking age of 21, because drinking alcohol is the “most adult” of the vices and potentially the most dangerous… well, besides getting blown up by the Taliban. I think the unified age should be 21. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings, either, if the driving age was raised.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:26 am
I remember being 18 and still drinking, despite the illegality of it, and being more responsible about it than many who were well over 21. At 19 I was in the military and serving proudly, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice…well, as prepared as anyone can be. Frankly, I wasn’t particularly mature for my age either, so I’m not sure 21 is really needed.
For years, the drinking age was 18. Then it was raised, but nothing really changed in regards to teen drinking, DUI, or any number of other reasons given for the drinking age to be 21. So, I’m personally in the 18 camp. However, I agree that a single age should be implemented. Treating some “adults” as “adults” for X but not for Y is just wrong.