# Should states be free to set their own drinking age? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 13, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193 "2006-02-13T01:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/21 "2006-02-13T17:39:47Z")
> [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > well, i’d think that if you lowered the legal drinking age, there would be a suddden influx of teen drinking. that almost goes without saying…the ones that would have this new freedom would go out and abuse it promptly. it’d just take a small amount of time to work that through the system, then it’d be back to equilibrium. Well, let’s get some solid statistics. I read about this in a book, so it’s not available online, but my memory is that the national 18-yo drinking age was tried for a few years, IIRC in the 70’s. Last time we discussed this, there were several people who were around at the time and remembered it well; is there anyone out there to tell us how long the national 18 law lasted? (I’m supposed to be doing Latin with my kid right now, so I can’t look it up myself, sorry gotta go.) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/22 "2006-02-13T18:41:18Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Well, let’s get some solid statistics. I read about this in a book, so it’s not available online, but my memory is that the national 18-yo drinking age was tried for a few years, IIRC in the 70’s The drinking age in California has never been under 21, at least in my 48 years of living here, so the lower ages in other states were never a factor. This was especially true what with California being such a huge state areawise. The lower ages in some states seemed mainly to be a feature of life in the upper Midwest. So driving across state lines to get a drink was not something that ever occurred to us. With that said, I think the law as it stands now is an outrage. I think ideally the allocation of federal highway funds among states should be more or less proportionate to what those states pay to the federal government; the existing law is practically extortionist. The money we pay in taxes belongs to us. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/23 "2006-02-13T19:45:39Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > So driving across state lines to get a drink was not something that ever occurred to us. Speak for yourself. When the drinking age in Arizona was 19, we always planned river trips whenever possible. Skip across the river, buy a ton of beer, and drink/sail/wench/puke/repeat all weekend long. Not the smartest thing we ever did, but we were 19 and immortal…what did we know? Nope, leave it at 21. So 18 year olds get to do some things and not others. Big deal. They can’t rent a car until they are 25. They can’t collect Social Security until they are 65. There is always another age hoop to jump through. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/24 "2006-02-13T20:02:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Unless somehow you’re saying we want a law that forces the Feds to distribute highway funds in am manner not acceptable to Congress? :dubious: That would require a Constitutional admendment, and I’d be very much against that. My issue is larger than that. The federal government taxes all of its income earning citizens, and then redistributes that wealth. However, whether it is NCLB or NMDA, it puts caveats on how a state retrieves the tax dollars that its residents paid. Federal taxes on the citizenry should go down, the federal government should get its nose out of states’ business, and whatever shortfalls happen because the federal government is no longer funding education or non-federal roadways should be made up by states increasing their own income generation. End the feds end-around over states’ rights. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/25 "2006-02-13T20:14:30Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope, leave it at 21. So 18 year olds get to do some things and not others. Big deal. They can’t rent a car until they are 25. They can’t collect Social Security until they are 65. There is always another age hoop to jump through. You are free to leave it at 21. Please don’t force another state to do so(please don’t repeat the nonsense about states being free to set their own age limits. Even Alaska had to give in. If they can’t go without the highway funds, who can?). If the issue is “Blood Borders,” I would have to point out again that closing times are as much of animpetus for driving drunk as drinking ages. Shall the federal government standardize those as well? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/26 "2006-02-13T23:08:28Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > My issue is larger than that. The federal government taxes all of its income earning citizens, and then redistributes that wealth. However, whether it is NCLB or NMDA, it puts caveats on how a state retrieves the tax dollars that its residents paid. > > Federal taxes on the citizenry should go down, the federal government should get its nose out of states’ business, and whatever shortfalls happen because the federal government is no longer funding education or non-federal roadways should be made up by states increasing their own income generation. End the feds end-around over states’ rights. Yeah, so??? And, Congress isn’t supposed to think how it spends the budget, just hand it over willy-nilly according to the demands of the states? :dubious: It isn’t the 18th century anymore, due. States aren’t like little countries. What one state does effects us all. But the States still have every _right_ to say to congree “Thanks, but we’ll get along without those Federal Hwy funds, and do what we want with our drinking age” whearas Congress has every right to say “Ok, go ahead, but we are witholding highway funds to you”. Interstate highways are very much a legit business for the Federal government to be in, as they cross state lines. I don’t want to be zooming along on a superhighway in State A, to then run into a two lane country road in State B- ESPECIALLY if I am in transit to State C. And State B has no right whatsoever to impede my travel from State A to State C. Your OP is “should States be free to set their own drinking age?” and \*they already are. \* **OP answered.** ---
**Author:** ![\_Ava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/43a26b/32.png) [@\_Ava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Ava)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/27 "2006-02-14T02:31:53Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > You are free to leave it at 21. Please don’t force another state to do so(please don’t repeat the nonsense about states being free to set their own age limits. Even Alaska had to give in. If they can’t go without the highway funds, who can?). Because Alaska needed their big bridge to nowhere and their fabulous bus stop, right? 😛 I thought that the push for lowering the age to 18 was because of Vietnam – the argument was that kids shouldn’t be dying in Vietnam if they couldn’t take a drink in their local bar back home. I think that was the same reason the voting age was reduced to 18. It was raised back to 21 because of MADD and the increasing publicity for drunk driving deaths. My dad’s friend killed a kid while driving drunk and didn’t go to prison in the days before MADD came along with their public awareness and pushing legislators and showing up in court to watch judges sentence drunk drivers. The higher age might not be a perfect fix, but it apparently works, and public safety is an appropriate concern for the federal legislature, yes? ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/28 "2006-02-14T03:35:43Z")
I wish the age were 18, it would make college fun for me because all my friends are 21 and like to go to bars. And the bars here are all 21+ so I can’t even get in and just drink soda all night. So I get left out a lot. And I found PLENTY of ways to get alcohol in high school. Anyone that wants to get it, can find a way. Since it’s illegal to drive under the influence, why not just equip all vehicles with breathalyzers like they do when you get convicted of DUI? Young people aren’t the only stupid ones driving drunk. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/29 "2006-02-14T06:36:15Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > Since it’s illegal to drive under the influence, why not just equip all vehicles with breathalyzers like they do when you get convicted of DUI? Young people aren’t the only stupid ones driving drunk. The ignition interlock devices will not allow a car to start with any detectable amount of alcohol. DUI laws vary from state to state, but in many states it is not illegal to drive with under .08 BAC. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/30 "2006-02-14T17:00:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Your OP is “should States be free to set their own drinking age?” and \*they already are. \* **OP answered.** Well they are not what I would call “free” to. I would say they are coerced into adhering to a national standard. They should be free to set their own drinking ages without fear of reprisals. How about this: suppose we say that any state that doesn’t mandate a 1 AM closing time loses its highway funding? How about any state that doesn’t require insurance for registration? Any state that doesn’t ban the use of cellphones while operating a vehicle? ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/31 "2006-02-14T17:35:54Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I’d strongly support the repeal of this law. Since I believe the drinking age should be 18 (and I’m well over 18), I can’t imagine a state raising the drinking age above 21. > > At age 18, you can vote, join the military, smoke, and be able to drink. You’re also responsible for the consequences of your actions. > > I strongly support this. But your (or the 18 year old’s) actons effect others, especially on the roads. The thought of more 18-20 year olds drunk and on the roads doens’t make me feel any better. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/32 "2006-02-14T18:39:54Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > How about this: suppose we say that any state that doesn’t mandate a 1 AM closing time loses its highway funding? How about any state that doesn’t require insurance for registration? Any state that doesn’t ban the use of cellphones while operating a vehicle? Get a majority of Congress to go along with you, the President to sign it, and SCOTUS to have no problem with it, and fine by me. In fact, I’d like to see that last one. Various state lawmakers are getting huge “campaign contributions” from the cellphone companies to not vote such laws in- dudes yapping on their cell whiel driving makes a LOT of bucks for the cellphone companies, you know. ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/33 "2006-02-14T18:52:56Z")
When I was in high school in the mid-70’s, it was 18 in the state I lived but 19 in the state where most of my friends lived. That is, as I recall. Further, the 19 y.o state stopped selling at 1 a.m., whereas the 18 state stopped selling at 2 a.m. Needless to say, my high school buddies and I made lots of cross border trips. And we weren’t technically legal to drink in either state. I see the whole 21 y.o age limit as being just another way to “legislate” morals. Somebody (or lots of vocal somebodies) think drinking is evil. EVIL I tells ya. So they limit it as much they can. What’s the marriage age in most states now? I’m prety sure that darned near everywhere you can be of such an age that you could legally marry and not legally drink at reception or on honeymoon. If they outlaw alcohol, only outlaws will have alcohol. They can pry my bottle out of my cold dead fingers. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/34 "2006-02-14T19:47:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Get a majority of Congress to go along with you, the President to sign it, and SCOTUS to have no problem with it, and fine by me. > > In fact, I’d like to see that last one. Various state lawmakers are getting huge “campaign contributions” from the cellphone companies to not vote such laws in- dudes yapping on their cell whiel driving makes a LOT of bucks for the cellphone companies, you know. What exactly do you see as the prupose of a state legislature, then? ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193/35 "2006-02-14T20:11:46Z")
Lets look at some stuff here: Firstly I think this 21 year-old drinking thing is part of the reason there is so much danger. I always felt it was stupid that we had a dry campus at my college. That means that the kids who lived on campus had to drive to go out and find a ride back home, when if they simply could walk to the bar there would be no problem. The problem isn’t so much drinking and age, just drinking and driving. I would suggest you be able to drink at 16 and drive at 18 or 20. Learn to drink first. Then when you get to be older (18) you much more respect. If there’s anything worse than a new driver at the age of 18 its the new driver at the age of 16. When you’re 16 you have nothing to do but be irresponsible. That’s really all that’s allowed. Imagine a world where you were 18 and first got your driver’s license. You probably have friends to take you places earlier, but you wouldn’t have that craziness of nothing to do after school. You’d be at work, or at college, where things are different. This overregulation really leads to more problems, I believe. Just because its availbable doesn’t mean everyone wants to get drunk all the time. Kids drink at 16 now but they don’t do it in front of their parents. Not because its illegal, but because its embarassing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-free-to-set-their-own-drinking-age/344193.md?page=1)