EL PASO, Texas -- Fort Bliss is one of the last Army installations to change the drinking age from 18 to 21, a change that went into effect at midnight on Wednesday night.

Perry Martin is a soldier who works at Fort Bliss. He likes the idea of moving the drinking age from 18 to 21.

"Twenty one seems to be the most responsible age, and you know, making the difference between 18 and 21, might not seem like a lot, but a lot happens," Martin told KFOX.

He's not the only one who feels it's time. Marge Bartoletti with Rio Grande Safe Communities said with thousands more troops coming to Fort Bliss, the change was necessary.

"Recently we've had some very unfortunate situations with Fort Bliss soldiers being killed, and alcohol has been a component of that in some of those cases," said Bartoletti.

Fernie Mendoza from Central El Paso is not a soldier, but he has friends who are, and said this won't stop troops from drinking.

"Either way there is going to be somehow, some way to get liquor either way. Either they know someone inside, or they know someone outside," said Mendoza.

Bartoletti admits what Mendoza is talking about will probably happen.

"With this, there will probably be an increase because they aren't going to be able to get alcohol on post, so they are going to look for other ways of being able to do that," said Bartoletti.

With the drinking age of just 18 in Juarez, some might be tempted to cross the border, but Fort Bliss officials said that probably won't happen.

"We don't believe so, because going into Juarez for all soldiers is a disobeying a direct order," said Jean Offutt with Fort Bliss.

For Martin, he believes the young soldiers will adjust.

"Initially everybody does have trouble with change, but what this change is going to allow, it is going to allow a lot more responsibility when is drinking," said Martin.

Another change that also began at midnight on Wednesday night, sale of alcohol at convenience stores on post will stop at 1 a.m.