Final answer:
The contract signed by two intoxicated co-workers agreeing to marry each other if still single when they reach age 40 is a voidable contract because the parties' intoxication at the time they signed impairs their capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement. Option c is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing the nature of contracts and their enforceability, the scenario of two intoxicated co-workers signing an agreement to marry if still single by the age of 40 presents a unique situation. Marriage is typically seen as a legally recognized social contract between two people, which carries implications of a shared life and legal responsibilities toward each other. However, when considering the legality of a contract, there are certain elements that must be present, including the mental capacity to understand the terms of the agreement.
In the given scenario, the parties were intoxicated, which calls into question their capacity to enter into a contract. In contract law, intoxication can make a contract voidable. This means that the agreement may be affirmed or rejected by one or both parties once the period of intoxication has passed and they are again capable of making a rational decision. Therefore, this contract could be considered voidable at the option of either party once sober.
It is important to note that there is no inherent illegality in co-workers entering into a relationship-related agreement, and the mere presence of a time condition on the contract's fulfillment does not automatically make it enforceable. The critical factor that renders this contract voidable is the impaired state of the parties at the time of signing, not their employment relationship or the legality of marriage as a consideration.
Given this information, the correct option for the student's question is:
c. This is a voidable contract because the parties were intoxicated at the time they signed it.