In 1998, the National Youth Rights Association was established to reduce the drinking age to 18. In 2004, the president of Middlebury College in Vermont, John McCardell Jr., wrote in the New York Times that “the age of 21 is bad social policy and a terrible law” that has worsened the college alcohol problem. [9] Groups opposed to the minimum of 21 include Choose Responsibility, the Amethyst Initiative, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. But there are consequences if a state does not comply with the federal minimum age law; They risk losing federal funds (mainly for highway projects). Not surprisingly, all fifty states did what was necessary to come together and receive their federal funds. But there are exceptions to who can buy, possess, serve, or even consume alcohol in many states. In some religions, it is customary to serve small amounts of wine to parishioners as part of a service or ceremony. It would be illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to participate in these activities, but some states have exceptions to allow believers under the age of 21 to legally participate in the rituals. Alcohol consumption by people under 21 is also strongly associated with9,14,15:10 states: Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming But states have very different rules and regulations for drinking. Check out this map from HealthGroove`s data analysts that visualizes how each state handles underage drinking. (1) In general. The Secretary shall withhold 10% of the amount payable under sections 104(b)(1), 104(b)(3) and 104(b)(4) of this title after the second fiscal year after 30. September 1985 begins to be divided into a State under sections 104 (b) (1), 104 (b) (3) and 104 (b) (4) of that title in which the purchase or public possession of an alcoholic beverage in that State by a person under twenty-one years of age is lawful.
There are only five states without an exemption from federal law: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and West Virginia. Forty-five States have exceptions, and these exceptions vary widely and merit further discussion. The Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) sets the legal age at which a person can purchase alcoholic beverages. 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 at which alcohol could be purchased varied from state to state.1 College campuses across the country continue to struggle with underage drinking problems, despite the National MLDA of 21. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has taken a particular interest in this topic and has compiled a list of recommendations that colleges should implement to combat underage drinking on campus. However, few schools have actually implemented these recommendations and, according to a recent study, most intervention programs currently in place on campus have proven ineffective. Underage drinking on college campuses is almost impossible to prevent, as access to alcoholic beverages is extremely easy. [15] Alcohol consumption by people under the age of 21 is strongly associated with alcohol-induced driving. The 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey16 found that among high school students in the past 30 days, it`s no secret that Florida is a well-known party destination. But Florida is also known for strictly enforcing the MLDA of 21.
You`ll find people who say that for the first time in 20 years, they`ve been listed on many travel sites when visiting a theme park. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to possess alcohol in this state. Although the consumption of alcohol by minors is not expressly prohibited by law, the possession of alcohol by minors is prohibited unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian or the person is over 18 years of age and possesses alcohol in the course of employment. According to the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), “possession and consumption are closely linked, as consumption generally requires possession.” Source: Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) website (accessed May 21, 2010) Chapter 138: Section 34C Several studies, including a 2011 review, have provided evidence against the idea that raising the drinking age to 21 actually saves long-term lives. [17] [18] [19] [20] For example, Miron and Tetelbaum (2009) found that when federal and unforced states have been separated, any life-saving effect in forced states is statistically or virtually no longer significant, and even in states that voluntarily adopt, the effect does not appear to last beyond the first year or two. They also note that age 21 appears to have little impact on adolescent alcohol use. [21] There is also evidence that road deaths only moved from the 18-20 age group to the 21-24 age group and were not prevented. [22] [23] [20] In addition, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and several other countries have experienced similar or faster declines in road fatalities than the United States since the early 1980s, although they have not increased the drinking age to 21. [24] In contrast, the Institute of Medicine has reviewed a large number of studies on the legal drinking age, including peer-reviewed academic journals,[25][26][27] and widely regarded the policy as a success[28] – so much so that they have advocated for similar restrictions on tobacco.