In many states today's youth can legally drive an automobile with their parents at the age of 15 ½ years old, and can drive on their own at the age of 16. The government feels that at the age of 16, kids are responsible enough to own and drive a 2000-pound machine at legal speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, putting at risk every driver on the road. In America a United States citizen is legally classified as an adult at the age of 18. At 18 years old we as adults are given the right to vote for the leaders of our country. Two hundred years ago in our country, you had to be white, male, and wealthy in order to vote. It is a right we take for granted, one that defines our nation as a democracy. Also, at the age of 18 we can legally buy tobacco products. The government feels that at the age of 18 years old we are at the age to make such potentially dangerous long-term decisions for ourselves such as smoking, which has been proven as being a cancer-causing product to our bodies. Along with these rights as 18 year olds come mandatory duties to serve our country. The selective service department states in its website, that all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., between the ages of 18 and 25, are legally required to sign up for selective service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. If you are eligible to register with Selective Service and fail to do so on time, you may receive a fine of up to $250,000 and/or five years in prison. With all these responsibilities and rights we inherit at and before 18 years old, the question arisesWhy can't we, as a United States adult citizen, legally drink a few beers on occasion?? One could say that a reasonable argument is that the government feels were too young to make such decisions. But as I pointed out earlier in the eyes of that same government teenagers at 15 ½ years old are considered to be legally responsible enough to drive an automobile at potentially fatal speeds, putting everyone on the roadways at risk for death or injury.