Should the United States lower the drinking age to 18?
Lowering the drinking age will invite more use of illicit drugs among 18-21 year olds. A peer-reviewed study from the Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs found that the younger a person begins to drink alcohol the more likely it is that they will use other illicit drugs.
Can you legally drink at 18 in the US?
It’s one of the seemingly ironclad rules of adolescence: In the United States, you can’t drink legally until you’re 21. This map masks incredible complexity and variety in underage drinking exceptions. Some states make exceptions for when minors may consume alcohol. Others make exceptions for when they may possess it.
Why is the legal drinking age in America 21?
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 the drinking age should be lowered to 18 essay?
The drinking age should be lowered to 18 because you can vote at eighteen, buy tobacco, it’ll reduce the thrill of breaking the law, evidence supports that early introduction of drinking is the safest way to reduce juvenile alcohol abuse, and college people that are not 21 drink also.
Which US states can you drink at 18?
19 for all alcoholic beverages: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 18 for all alcoholic beverages: Hawaii, Louisiana and Vermont.
Can you drink in America at 18 if your British?
No, you will not be able to drink legally within the United States. Purchasing alcoholic beverages as a minor, or knowingly purchasing alcohol for a minor, are both criminal offenses in all 50 states.
When did the legal drinking age change?
1984
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).