Table of Contents
Why do Americans have to wait until 21 to drink?
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.
Why is the drinking age different in other countries?
Some countries also have different age limits for different types of alcohol drinks. The most commonly known reason for the law behind the legal drinking age is the effect on the brain in adolescents. Since the brain is still maturing, alcohol can have a negative effect on the memory and long-term thinking.
Can you drink at 13 in the US?
Although the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol is 21 in all states and most territories (see National Minimum Drinking Age Act), the legal details for consumption vary greatly. While a few states completely ban alcohol usage for people under 18, the majority have exceptions that permit consumption.
Has the drinking age in the US always been 21?
The Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, establishing 21 as the minimum legal purchase age.
What country has the highest drinking age?
The United States (except Puerto Rico and Virginia’s Island) and 19 other countries, especially Asian countries, have the highest set MLDA. However, some areas in India have drinking ages as high as 25-30 years….Drinking Ages Around the World.
Country | Drinking Age |
---|---|
Burundi | 18* |
Cambodia | No Drinking Age |
Cameroon | 21* |
Canada | 19* |
Why the drinking age in America should be lowered?
Lowering MLDA 21 would be good for the economy. More people would legally be able to drink in bars, restaurants, and other licensed establishments. Revenue would increase for private business owners, and greater amounts of tax revenue would be collected by the government.
Why was the drinking age raised back to 21 in America?
“As a result, a citizens’ effort began prompting states to re-establish 21 as the minimum legal age.” The drinking age was raised back to 21 over federal highway funding.
What is the legal drinking age in the United States?
The MLDA in the United States is 21 years. However, prior to the enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, the legal age when alcohol could be purchased varied from state to state.1.
What happens if the minimum age of drinking age is lowered?
But the act does say that if the minimum age is set lower than 21 in a state, then that state would see their federal highway funds cut. Unsurprisingly, due to the act, all states raised their minimum drinking ages to 21 by 1988 (although 12 states never had to change the minimum).
Is America an outlier when it comes to its drinking age?
So the long short is that America is definitely an outlier when it comes to its drinking age. There’s not much to argue about or against to that statement, and we figured a lot of people generally sensed that anyway.