Us Legal Drinking Age Change6 min read
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. However, there is a movement afoot to change that. On November 6, 2018, the drinking age will be on the ballot in Utah as a referendum. If it is approved, the legal drinking age in Utah will be lowered to 18.
There are many reasons why people are in favor of lowering the drinking age. One of the most common arguments is that it is hypocritical to tell young adults that they are adults when they can’t drink. They argue that if young adults can vote, serve in the military, and sign contracts, they should be able to drink as well.
Another argument in favor of lowering the drinking age is that it is ineffective. In countries where the drinking age is lower than 21, such as France and Spain, the rates of drunk driving and alcohol-related deaths are lower than in the United States.
Opponents of lowering the drinking age argue that it would lead to more drunk driving fatalities and other alcohol-related problems. They point to the fact that the United States has a lower drinking age than most other developed countries and that our rates of drunk driving and alcohol-related deaths are higher.
So, what do you think? Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
Table of Contents
Was the drinking age in the US ever 18?
In the United States, the drinking age has been 21 since 1984. But before that, the drinking age was 18.
The drinking age was 18 for a long time in the United States. In the early 1970s, there was a lot of debate about whether the drinking age should be raised to 21. Some people thought that it should be raised, while others thought that it should stay at 18.
In 1971, Congress passed a bill that raised the drinking age to 21. But this bill was vetoed by then-President Richard Nixon.
In 1973, Congress passed another bill that raised the drinking age to 21. This bill was also vetoed by President Nixon.
In 1984, Congress passed a bill that raised the drinking age to 21. This bill was not vetoed by President Reagan, and it became law.
When did us change drinking age to 21?
In 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which effectively raised the drinking age from 18 to 21. The act was a response to a number of drunk driving fatalities among young people. By raising the drinking age, lawmakers hoped to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths.
Prior to 1984, the drinking age varied from state to state. Some states had a drinking age of 18, while others had a drinking age of 21. In some cases, the drinking age was even lower.
Opponents of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act argued that it was unconstitutional to force states to raise their drinking ages. However, the act was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court.
Since the passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, there has been a significant decrease in the number of drunk driving fatalities among young people. However, there has also been a significant increase in the number of alcohol-related arrests among young people.
Why did the US change the drinking age to 21?
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which withholds highway funding from states that don’t set the drinking age at 21.
So why did the US change the drinking age to 21?
There are a few reasons.
One reason is that the age for purchasing and consuming alcohol was gradually raised from 18 to 21 throughout the 20th century. So, by the 1980s, the drinking age was mostly in line with other age restrictions for activities like voting and driving.
Another reason is that there was evidence that younger drinkers were more likely to experience negative consequences from alcohol, like car accidents and health problems.
And finally, there was the belief that if the drinking age was raised, it would help reduce alcohol-related fatalities and injuries.
Since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984, there has been some debate over whether or not it’s been effective.
On the one hand, there’s evidence that the drinking age has helped reduce alcohol-related fatalities and injuries.
But on the other hand, there’s evidence that the age limit has pushed underage drinking underground, and that it’s now more difficult for young people to access safe and responsible drinking environments.
So, the debate over the effectiveness of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act continues.
Are all US states drinking age 21?
Are all US states drinking age 21?
That is a difficult question to answer definitively because the drinking age is a matter of state law. However, as of 2018, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have a minimum drinking age of 21.
The legal drinking age has been 21 in the United States since 1984, when Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act. This law threatened to withhold federal highway funding from states that did not raise their minimum drinking age to 21.
There has been some discussion in recent years about whether the minimum drinking age should be lowered to 18. However, there is no serious movement to change the law at this time.
Which US states can you drink at 18?
If you’re 18 years old, you’re legally allowed to drink alcohol in all US states. However, there are some states where the drinking age is lower than 18. In these states, you can drink alcohol at the age of 17 or 16.
The states where the drinking age is 17 are Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
The states where the drinking age is 16 are Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
Why is America’s drinking age so high?
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. This is one of the highest drinking ages in the world. Many people are wondering why the drinking age is so high in America. There are a few reasons for this.
The first reason is that the legal drinking age is meant to protect young people from the dangers of alcohol. Alcohol can be harmful to young people’s health and can lead to accidents and injuries. The legal drinking age helps to protect young people from these dangers.
Another reason for the high drinking age is that the United States wants to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths. Alcohol-related accidents and deaths are a major problem in America. The high drinking age helps to reduce these accidents and deaths.
Finally, the high drinking age is also meant to help reduce the number of alcohol-related crimes. Alcohol-related crimes are a major problem in America. The high drinking age helps to reduce these crimes.
So, why is the drinking age in America so high? There are a few reasons: to protect young people’s health, to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths, and to reduce the number of alcohol-related crimes.
Can you drink at 18 in California?
In the state of California, the legal drinking age is 21. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if you are 18 years old and are enlisted in the military, you are allowed to drink alcohol. If you are 18 years old and are working in a job that requires you to drink alcohol, you are also allowed to drink alcohol. Additionally, if you are 18 years old and are accompanied by a parent or guardian, you are allowed to drink alcohol. Finally, if you are 18 years old and are a student at a university or college that is licensed to serve alcohol, you are allowed to drink alcohol.