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Speak Up! - View Question #512 |
 printer friendly version
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 01/14/04
Patti from PA said:
Actually, there is data to support the younger a child is exposed to alcohol, the greater their chance of becomming alcoholic. And the reason for the change in the drinking age had a lot to do with highway safety, hence the government holding on to the $$ unless the states cooperated.
And another point of fact, some European countries have minimum drinking ages but do not enforce them. And France, for instance, has a MUCH higher rate of alcoholism and alcohol related disease and subsequent death(e.g., liver disease) than the US.
That being said, I agree...if you're old enough to be dra
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On 12/28/03
Katherine from OH said:
I agree! How is drinking alchohol going to affect you in a horrible way if you're not driving or anything? I think it's stupid that people under certain ages can't legally drink unless their parents give it to them.... whatever, I think that law is really stupid
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On 12/14/03
Micah from TX said:
At the age of eighteen, an individual can vote, serve on a jury, stay out without a curfew, leave home, drive, smoke, buy weapons, engage in financial contracts, fornicate, start a family, be sent to adult prison, join the army, and die for this country. If an eighteen year-old can be held to so many responsibilities, then it seems unfair to say that they are not old enough to drink. Who is to say that a person is more "mature" than another person? Change it to 18!
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On 12/11/03
Mike from CT said:
you can drink at 18 in canada and it works fine there, why not here?
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On 12/11/03
Andre from Othe said:
Hey. I am 20 years old. I am married and have one child, i have been in a full time job for nearly 4 years and have lived in my house for 2 years. I am an adult and have been since i started work. All this and i can't have a drink in a bar?
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