# Does anyone actually care about the drinking age? (U.S.)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-care-about-the-drinking-age-u-s/372168>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 10, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-care-about-the-drinking-age-u-s/372168 "2006-09-10T15:34:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-care-about-the-drinking-age-u-s/372168/41 "2006-09-11T19:09:08Z")

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Irrespective of the merits of 21 as the boundary, it hasn’t had much [practical impact](http://www.briancbennett.com/charts/nsduh/new-users/new-alcohol.htm). In some years, a reduction by 10% in the rate of use by under-18s, but the rates have also fluctuated to levels equal or greater than the rates seen pre-1984.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-care-about-the-drinking-age-u-s/372168/42 "2006-09-11T19:15:43Z")

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[QUOTE=II Gyan II]  
Irrespective of the merits of 21 as the boundary, it hasn’t had much [practical impact](http://www.briancbennett.com/charts/nsduh/new-users/new-alcohol.htm). In some years, a reduction by 10% in the rate of use by under-18s, but the rates have also fluctuated to levels equal or greater than the rates seen pre-1984.  
[/QUOTE]

Has it had any effect on the incidence of alcohol-based auto accidents?

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**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-care-about-the-drinking-age-u-s/372168/43 "2006-09-11T20:07:58Z")

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Colorado allows parents to provide their children with alcohol.

> [@Colorado Revised Statute 18-13-122](#):
>
> (3) It shall be an affirmative defense to the offense described in subsection (2) of this section that the ethyl alcohol was possessed or consumed by a person under twenty-one years of age under the following circumstances:
> 
> (a) While such person was legally upon private property with the knowledge and consent of the owner or legal possessor of such private property and the ethyl alcohol was possessed or consumed with the consent of his parent or legal guardian who was present during such possession or consumption; or

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-care-about-the-drinking-age-u-s/372168/44 "2006-09-11T20:41:10Z")

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I have found enforcement to be spotty at best. I get carded only about 1/2 of the time at grocery stores. And I’ve never gotten carded when wearing my corduroy jacket (I like to call it my “associate professor” jacket) and glasses. Apparently I don’t look cool enough to be buying alcohol underage.

I’ve never gotten carded when going wine tasting. I’ve never gotten carded in a restaurant that charged $20 or more for a plate.

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