Three Reasons the Age of Majority Should Be Raised from 18 to 21

In the United States, the age of majority has been 18 years old for some time now. Should the age at which a child legally becomes an adult be changed from age 18 to age 21? Consider the following effects such a change could have:

1. Raising the age of majority from 18 to 21: less young people will die in battles and wars.

For most people, graduation from high school presents a major question of what to do next. Some people may choose to delay going to college in favor of joining the military. By serving in the military before going to college, the financial aspects of college will be easier to weather. Of course, that is assuming the young person makes it through their time in the military.

If the age of majority is changed from 18 to 21, young people at age 18 will no longer have the option to join the military. They will be more likely to go on to college immediately after high school graduation. Taking college courses will help broaden their horizons, and they will be much more mentally prepared to decide whether the military is the right choice for them at age 21.

2. Raising the age of majority from 18 to 21: there will be legal consistency regarding what a person of a certain age is considered legally competent to decide.

Many people think it is strange that the age of legally becoming an adult is age 18, but the age to legally consume alcohol is age 21. At age 18, the decision whether to join the U.S. military is considered to be completely within the realm of competent decision-making, but an 18 year old is not considered competent to choose whether to consume an alcoholic beverage. Both decisions can have serious consequences, but surely going to war will have at least as many grave mental and physical consequences as choosing to consume alcohol. Changing the age of majority from 18 to 21 (or conversely, changing the age of allowing alcohol consumption from age 21 to age 18) would result in legal consistency regarding what a person of a certain age is considered legally competent to decide.

3. Raising the age of majority from 18 to 21: the population, which has been increasing at an alarming rate, may begin to level off or decrease.