# The US drinking age should go back to being 18. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011 "2004-03-18T11:19:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011/41 "2004-03-19T17:30:26Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Not true. The federal highway funds blackmail was only used force states to raise the drinking age; neighboring states with different ages ended up with a “bloody borders” situation wherein youngsters would drive to the next state where they could legally drink and wind up driving home again blitzed. Louisiana was the last state to fall into step, fairly recently I might add. > There still remains a good deal of variance in the legal limits, though. Well, [this](http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/fifahiwy/ffahappf.htm) indicates that the feds are blackmailing the states with regard to BAC levels for intoxicated _minors_. > [@](#): > > State must enact and enforce a law that considers any individual under 21 years who has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or above while operating a motor vehicle to be driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol. > > If a State does not have such a law in effect by October 1, 1998, the Secretary will withhold 5 percent of NHS, STP, and IM apportionments. If a State does not have such a law in effect by October 1, 1999, the Secretary will withhold 10 percent of NHS, STP, and IM apportionments each fiscal year thereafter. Funds withheld before September 30, 2000, remain available for 3 fiscal years. Funds withheld after September 30, 2000, lapse immediately. I had thought their blackmail extended to BAC levels for all intoxicated drivers but I cheerfully admit I could be wrong. The page details a number of other federal blackmail efforts. ---
**Author:** ![TWOTfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TWOTfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWOTfan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011/42 "2004-03-19T18:07:07Z")
In the U.S., you also can’t purchase a handgun until the age of 21, so drinking isn’t the only right you don’t get at 18. And I agree, the “it’s forbidden” argument doesn’t hold up AT ALL. ---
**Author:** ![trudi\_fermelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@trudi\_fermelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trudi_fermelli)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011/43 "2004-03-19T19:12:26Z")
A simple recollection. I was also 18 when they changed the drinking age to 21 in Michigan (not all states had this law). There was some logic in their reasoning for the change. It was noted that when 18 yr olds are able to purchase liquor, they were also able to be a primary source for underagers in high school. This was true where I was at, since plenty of Seniors were 18 and some even profitted from their ability to supply the party crowd (and sometimes the morning vodka/oj before class crowd) with drink. It certainly made it more difficult for 16 yr olds, etc who didnt hang out with 21 yr olds to indulge but never really did or would stop the issue with alcohol in the schools. (finally admitted to my typos and CLOSELY edited this post 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011/44 "2004-03-19T19:24:10Z")
I am also not entirely sure about the forbidden argument. I come from a place (Montreal) where the drinking age is 18 and, really, as long as you look over 13 you can get all the alcohol you want. Many of my friends are binge drinkers on their birthdays and New Year’s. Pretty much the rest of the time we get along with a bit tipsy. I’ve never heard of anyone dying from binge drinking up here, nor do I know anyone (or OF anyone, except maybe in the paper) who has gotten into a car crash from drunk driving. I’m not really ready to say why we have these differences. I truthfully don’t know. But 18 does work for us. ---
**Author:** ![vasyachkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c5a1d2/32.png) [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011/45 "2004-03-20T13:18:13Z")
alcohol is worse than many drugs that are not legal at any age. that is what should be bothering you, not what age you can drink at. i could care less if alcohol would get banned altogether, all the drugs worth taking are already banned. only fools use alcohol and tobacco. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-drinking-age-should-go-back-to-being-18/235011.md?page=2)