In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required states to raise their ages for purchase and public possession to 21 by October 1986 or lose 10% of their federal highway funds.
When was the drinking age 18 in the US?
| Effective July 17, 1984 37 years ago | Citations | Public law 98-363 | Statutes at Large 98 Stat. 435 aka 98 Stat. 437 | Codification |
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When did it become law to be 21 to drink?
The Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984 , establishing 21 as the minimum legal purchase age. Since then: Drinking by high school seniors has fallen substantially — from 66% to 42% (see chart).
Why is the drinking age 21 and not 18?
In short, we ended up with a national minimum age of 21 because of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 . This law basically told states that they had to enact a minimum drinking age of 21 or lose up to 10 percent of their federal highway funding.
What was the legal drinking age in 1960?
During the late 1960s and 1970s, nearly all states lowered the drinking age to 18 .
What is 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.
What year could you drink at 18?
From 1969 to 1976 , some 30 states lowered their purchase ages, generally to 18. This was primarily because the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1971 with the passing into law of the 26th amendment. Many states started to lower their minimum drinking age in response, most of this occurring in 1972 or 1973.
What states can you drink under 21?
Possession of alcohol allowed by minors for a “family exception” in 29 states (which may or may not have specific location restrictions as well): Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana , Nebraska, Nevada, New ...
When did Michigan lower the drinking age to 18?
In August of 1971 , the Michigan Legislature adopted Public Act No. 79 which lowered the age of majority in Michigan to 18. As of January 1, 1972, the legal minimum drinking age in Michigan for all types of alcoholic beverages became 18 years of age.
Can you drink at 18?
In North America the legal drinking age and legal purchase age varies from 18 to 21 years : ... In the United States, the minimum legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages is 21 years of age; the two exceptions are Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands where the age is 18. The legal drinking age varies by state.
Can you drink under 21 with a parent?
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.
Why should you be able to drink at 18?
Lower drinking age would allow for increased education , greater safety among young people, college students. College students consuming alcohol is inevitable — while not all choose to partake in drinking, many do. Drinking alcohol can lead to unsafe conditions.
What states can you drink at 18?
Plus, in North Carolina, you can pour beer and wine at eighteen, but not liquor until you are 21. As you can see, it quickly gets confusing when it comes to the minimum legal age and liquor. There are only five states with no exceptions to the federal law: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and West Virginia .
What was the drinking age in 1800?
Before the mid to late 1800s, there was no minimum drinking age anywhere in the country . What little information that is available shows that Wisconsin passed the first such ordinance in 1839, which prevented the sale of wine or liquor to anyone under the age of 18 unless they had a parent’s consent.
What is the drinking age in Japan?
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.
What was the drinking age in the 50s?
States were allowed to make their own alcohol laws once again, and most imposed a drinking age of 21 , with a few mostly southern states setting it at 18. At the time, 21 was still the age of majority, so this made sense.
