there are states where you can drink legaly prior to turning 21? This question is not for me in particular, I’m 25…but someone asked the question on a website I run and I’m having a difficult time finding an answer. One site I checked out, the homepage of the International Center for Alcohol Policies said that only 31 of 50 states have the 21 age limit (though they didn’t list states.) I find this kinda hard to believe, since I’ve never heard of any of the states that don’t have a 21 limit.
So, do any of you dopers live in a state that’s not a 21 limit or know of one? I’d appreciate any help I can get on this one.
All states limit sales of alcohol to people under 21. There are a few states with pseudo-loopholes where it’s not illegal for a person under 21 to purchase alchohol, but it’s still illegal to sell to them. Whatever, in all 50 states you won’t be able to buy alcohol without someone performing an illegal act.
I believe that you can drink at 18 on a military base, but that’s an enclave in an otherwise 21-world.
The MLDA (Min Legal Drinking Age) is a State controlled issue, but in 1984, the Federal Gubmint passed a law that would withhold Federal Highway Funds for those states who chose to exercise their rights and NOT raise it to 21. By 1988, all 50 states had raised the limit to 21.
I looked at the site you mentioned and did not see the stat you quote. This page on that site says it is 21.
TMaxwell is referring to this report, which indeed points out the loophole in state laws; while all states limit alcohol purchases to persons 21 and over, 19 states have not made it illegal for those under 21 to consume alcohol.
UncleBill, this is the report on that site that I got my information from.
I had heard about the 1984 federal law, but was also trying to research supposed loopholes in that law. Sorry, if this topic has already made it’s way through this board in the past…didn’t mean to beat a dead horse here…just interested.http://www.icap.org/publications/report4.html
Puerto Rico (not a state, but US territory) has a legal drinking age of 18. There have been rumors of upping the age to 21, but so far the majority of people oppose it.
I don’t know if Puerto Rico still receives federal funding for its highways.
Puerto Rico did reduce the legal maximum alcohol blood level, which was another requisite for getting the Federal Highway Funds, if I read correctly when that issue was around the newspapers a couple of years ago. (Because it was some years ago that they finally reduced it)
Hrmm, I would have thought that this was enshrined under Federal law but in fact it appears that the opposite is the case. If I read this cite correctly, the official drinking age at all military bases in the US should be 21. I’m guessing overseas it is 18 but can’t really tell from reading the legal text.
This was changed in the mid-80’s under pressure from MADD according to another site. Fighting my own ignorance.
Nope – it depends entirely on local law. We used to pay the older guys to get stuff from the Class VI (liquor store) for us, because it was both illegal to purchase and consume under 21.
At Fort Hood, part of the base was in a dry-county. On those parts of the base, it was illegal to purchase and drink, too.
German law provided for pretty much anyone to drink, but local commanders generally set on-post rules to a minimum age of 18, but that didn’t prevent anyone from going off post completely legally.
Probably depends on your base commander; I know of at least one base where soldiers stationed there can buy at the PX regardless of age and I’ve heard the same about other bases.