Why is 20 not the drinking age?
In short, because of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. Exceptions include possession (and presumably drinking) for religious practices, while in the company of parents, spouses, or guardians who are over 21, medical uses, and during the course of legal employment.
Why is the legal drinking age 21 and not 18?
The drinking age was raised back to 21 over federal highway funding. In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act passed, which stated federal highway funds would be withheld from U.S. states that failed to set the minimum legal drinking age back at 21. By 1988, all the states had adopted the age minimum.
How did the drinking age become 21?
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required states to raise their ages for purchase and public possession to 21 by October 1986 or lose 10\% of their federal highway funds. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act is also seen as a congressional sidestep of the Tenth Amendment.
Was 21 always the legal drinking age?
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).
Why is 18 the age of adulthood?
Why is 18 considered the age of adulthood? Because that’s when people get to vote. Before the passage of the 26th Amendment in 1971, 21 was the minimum voting age in most states—and thus served as the age of adulthood in most areas of law.
Why was the National Drinking Age Act of 1984 passed?
An Act to encourage a uniform minimum drinking age of 21; to combat drugged driving, improve law enforcement and provide incentives to the states to reduce drunk driving. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (23 U.S.C.
Why is the legal drinking age 18?
Lowering the minimum legal purchase age was associated with an increase in road traffic accidents, and other harms, among young people. Many US states reduced their drinking age from 21 to 18. Changes in the minimum legal purchase age in the US also allowed careful analysis of two large samples.
Is 21 an adult?
In the United States, you can’t drink until you are 21, but legal adulthood, along with voting and the ability to join the military, comes at age 18. You’re allowed to watch adult movies at 17.
Why should they change the drinking law to 21?
Teens get drunk twice as fast as adults, 9 but have more trouble knowing when to stop. Teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults. Enforcing the legal drinking age of 21 reduces traffic crashes, 4-6 protects young people’s maturing brains, 12,14 and keeps young people safer overall.
Is it wrong for people under the age 21 to drink alcohol?
Not only is it always illegal for people under age 21 to drink alcohol—no matter where you are or who you got it from—but the adults serving underage people may also be breaking the law. More than 30 states have passed “social host” laws that punish adults (anyone age 21+) who permit underage drinking on their property.
What countries have legal drinking age?
But many countries such as China, France, Italy and Spain have a legal drinking age of 18. These countries allow their youth to consume alcohol, but are taught to drink in moderation. Americans should follow in their footsteps and lower the drinking age.
Should the drinking age be lowered to 18 from 21?
Lower the Drinking Age From 21 to 18. The legal drinking age in the United States should be lowered from 21 to 18 for its citizens’ own safety, because adults can and should make their own decisions regarding alcohol, and because it is unconstitutional not to give them the chance to try.