Proponents of lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21 argue that it has not stopped teen drinking, and has instead pushed underage binge drinking into private and less controlled environments, leading to more health and life-endangering behavior by teens.
Is 21 a fair drinking age?
A Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) of 21 saves lives and protects health. Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify the legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages. The MLDA in the United States is 21 years .
Why should the drinking age be lowered?
Lower drinking age would allow for increased education , greater safety among young people, college students. ... If students were aware of their tolerance before entering college, they would be less likely to over-consume alcohol, which could lower the rate of crimes associated with alcohol consumption.
Can you drink younger 21?
Along with Oregon, California has the nation's oldest MLDA 21 laws. In 2016, there was an initiative to lower the drinking age to 18, but it did not gain much support. However, underage drinking is allowed in the presence of a responsible adult .
Why the drinking age should stay at 21?
More than 25,000 lives have been saved in the U.S. thanks to the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age. This law continues to prevent tragedies — decreasing crashes by an estimated 16 percent and keeping young people safer from many risks.
What's the youngest drinking age in the world?
Although the majority of the countries around the world have set the MLDA at 18 years, 16 years is considered the youngest drinking age.
Is it OK for a 14 year old to drink alcohol?
Although the minimum drinking age is officially 21 in all 50 states , 31 states allow parents to furnish alcohol to minors, and 30 allow minors to drink for religious purposes. Although the minimum drinking age is 21 in all 50 states, 31 states allow parents, guardians or spouses to furnish alcohol to minors.
What is the highest drinking age in the world?
Of the 190 countries, 61% have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old. The United States and 11 other countries have an MLDA of 21 years old , the highest MLDA of all the countries where it is legal to drink (although some areas of India have drinking ages as high as 25 and 30 years old).
Why is the drinking age 18?
However, during the Vietnam War , the age was reduced to 18 on the grounds that a person who could be conscripted to fight and die for their country should also have the right to drink alcohol. By 1974, all states and territories had adopted 18 as the legal drinking age.
Where is the drinking age 16?
In Europe, the most average (median) alcohol minimum purchasing age is 18 years old. But some countries ( Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain ) still set the minimum age at 16.
What is Japan's drinking age?
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20 . While this age differs from country by country, as long as you're over 20 years of age, you're free to drink in Japan. (Just be sure to bring your passport with you for ID.) As in many other countries, people under the legal age of 20 also cannot purchase alcohol.
Why is the drinking age so low in Europe?
Europe's small size is just one of the many factors that contributes to its lower drinking age. ... Historically, as more American teenagers started driving, the drinking age, then 18, became a problem since drunk driving incidents and crashes increased.
Is the minimum drinking age a federal law?
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (23 U.S.C. § 158) was passed by the United States Congress and was later signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on July 17, 1984. ... The minimum purchase and drinking ages is a state law , and most states still permit “underage” consumption of alcohol in some circumstances.
Can you buy nonalcoholic beer under 21?
In the United States, beverages containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) were legally called non-alcoholic, according to the now-defunct Volstead Act. Because of its very low alcohol content, non-alcoholic beer may be legally sold to people under age 21 in many American states.
Can a parent give their child alcohol?
Only a parent or guardian (or a person authorised by the parent or guardian) may supply alcohol to a minor at an unlicensed premises (including a family home), however the supply must be consistent with the responsible supervision of the minor.
Can minors drink alcohol with parents?
Parents, guardians, or someone authorised by a parent or guardian, can supply alcohol to a minor when the minor is: away from a licensed premises . at a private gathering or at home. in an unlicensed restaurant.
