Alcohol has been a major debate issue in the United States for many years. Prohibition was what began the struggle for laws involving alcohol. The 18th amendment prevented the sale of alcohol in the United States (APIS). This didn't go over well with the citizens and it was repealed in 1933. Ever since then there has been talk about how high the drinking age should be. There was no country wide law prohibiting the sale of alcohol to any age group until 1984 when the government implemented the National Minimum Drinking Age Act that forced all of the states to raise their drinking age to 21 or their government highway funding would be removed (Brief…). Before this, in the early 1970's, many states lowered the drinking age to 18. This was influenced by the Vietnam War and the fact that many laws were being lowered for 18, 19, or 20 year olds (Brief…).
Currently, it is illegal to buy alcohol when under the age of 21. This law is countrywide. However, each state still has some power over their laws. For example, each state can set the age that its citizens are allowed to sell alcohol. Also, the laws are different for each state in regards to religious functions. The punishment for using fake identification cards and underage drinking also varies from state to state (APIS).
Some are trying to change this law because just as in the 70's, they believe that if you can go to war, you should be able to drink. Others such as some college deans recognize that it is a major problem on campus and want to lower the drinking age or provide 'drinking licenses' in order to curb binge drinking (Jobs, News…).There are many reasons people believe the drinking age should be lowered which are valid.
Works Cited
Hanson, Dr.David. "Legal Drinking Age." 8 March 2007.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html
APIS – Overview of Underage Drinking Policy in the United States
http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/index.asp?SEC=%7B5AEB2E37-1249-4D49-A1F6-BCC73C2062B7%7D&Type=B_BASIC
" Brief history of the minimum legal drinking age." AMA (Alcohol) Minimum drinking age. 1995. AMA. 2 March 2007
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13246.html
Jobs, News and Views for All of Higher Education – Inside Higher Ed:: An Honest Conversation About Alcohol
http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/16/drinking
