Question: Was there ever a time when the drinking age was 18 years? If so, when?
Answer: Before 1986, some U.S. states had a drinking age of 21 and some had a drinking age of 18. State governments in each of the 50 US states, not the federal government, control the minimum drinking age. However, the federal government can force states into adopting certain laws.
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Purchase Age Act, to encourage each state to institute a minimum legal purchase age (MLPA) of 21 by 1986. This act made it nearly impossible for states to receive funding from the federal government for construction of highways if the minimum legal drinking age was under 21. Since all states depend on the federal government for highway funding (which equals Billions of dollars each year) all US states enacted minimum drinking ages of 21.
Today, the minimum drinking age in all 50 US states is 21 years of age.
The main federal acts concerned with alcoholic beverages are:
Title 27 of the United States Code (Federal Law)
The Federal Alcohol Administration Act, at 27 USC §§201 - 207
The Federal Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act, at 27 USC §§213 - 219a.
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On 12/15/02
michelle from NY said:
ok..i definatli think that if the drinking age is 21, then wen most people get to that age they feel that because they were restricted for 21 years to drink, that they should take advantage of it. then again, if its under that age, then yoo probabli will do it all the time, irresponsibli too...or maybe it wont be a big deal to yoo nemore cuz your allowd to do it..idk
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On 11/12/02
Alexa from WI said:
Yea Whadup i think the drinking age should be 18 cuz it stinks that iz 21 i think peepz should be able to drink when there 18 cuz u know, u get to vote and do every thin else so y not???? i dunno tho ??????
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On 10/20/02
Christina from CA said:
WOW! u don't get it, do u! Being 18 doesn't just make u an adult, it makes u responcible for everything u do! If u choose to drink @ 18, then ur making a choice to take the consequences when they occur! U can't run to mommy or daddy anymore! If ur choosing to drink @ a younger age than 18, well then maybe u should read up on some alcohol posioning or addiction, www.teenweb.org because most addictions occur before u even turn 21! That's sad concidering then sfter that u will probly only live to see ur 30th birthday! Life is full of choices but choose wisely!
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On 10/17/02
Tanith from NJ said:
WOW!!! A whole bunch of people are saying you can join the army so that you should be able to drink. Hummm..... So are you saying that you should be able to operate a weapon and be drunk off your ---? HAVE FUN!!! GO ARMY!!! Get drunk and kill people....sounds like fun. Just because you can die for your country doesnt mean that you should have the ability to be drunk while doing so.
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On 09/20/02
Emily from PA said:
Hi my name is emily and i am 16. I completely agree with you about the country stuff. I am aloud to drink by my parents cuz they figure i will do it anyways so why not let me but it should be 18 i am doing a report in english and i am doing mine on the age limit for drinking should be 18! Ok well thank you for listening!
bye everyone
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