Legal rights of children

Anyone with teenage children undoubtedly has heard this expression: "If I'm old enough to fight for my country, I'm old enough to drink." Hard logic to refute, and it was not too long ago that 18-year-old individuals could drink alcohol legally in many states, until Congress in 1984 "encouraged" states-by threatening to withhold highway funds-to raise the age to 21. Was this based on an individualized assessment of maturity and driving skills? No, it applies to all persons of a certain age. Was it a public health concern about highway fatalities and alcohol? Partially, but evidence suggests that alcohol-related traffic fatalities are acute up to age 24, not 21. How realistic, or politically popular, would it have been for Congress to set the minimum drinking age at 24? Each time we speak of children's rights, these two issues are present. Is the issue politically supported within the adult population, a necessity given the lack of children's political clout? Are all children to be treated alike, or should age or developmental distinctions be considered? This article addresses children's legal rights by singling out a few contemporary issues and their treatment that demonstrate some of these influences.