U.S. history of alcohol minimum purchase age by state

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The alcohol laws of the United States regarding minimum age for purchase have changed over time. In colonial America, generally speaking, there were no purchase ages, and alcohol consumption by young teenagers was common, even in taverns. [1] In post-Revolutionary America, such freedom gradually reduced due to religious sentiments (as embodied in the temperance movement) and a growing recognition in the medical community about the dangers of alcohol. [1] The more modern history is given in the table below. Unless otherwise noted, if different alcohol categories have different minimum purchase ages, the age listed below is set at the lowest age given (e.g. if the purchase age is 18 for beer and 21 for wine or spirits, as was the case in several states, the age in the table will read as "18", not "21"). In addition, the purchase age is not necessarily the same as the minimum age for consumption of alcoholic beverages, although they have often been the same.

As one can see in the table below, there has been much volatility in the states' purchase ages since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. Shortly after the ratification of the 21st amendment in December, most states set their purchase ages at 21 since that was the voting age at the time. Most of these limits remained constant until the early 1970s. From 1969 to 1976, some 30 states lowered their purchase ages, generally to 18. This was primarily because the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1971 with the passing into law of the 26th amendment. Many states started to lower their minimum purchase age in response, most of this occurring in 1972 or 1973. [2] [3] [4] Twelve states kept their purchase ages at 21 since repeal of Prohibition and never changed them.

From 1976 to 1983, several states voluntarily raised their purchase ages to 19 (or, less commonly, 20 or 21), in part to combat drunk driving fatalities.[ citation needed ] In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required states to raise their ages for purchase and public possession to 21 by October 1986 or lose 10% of their federal highway funds. By mid-1988, all 50 states and the District of Columbia had raised their purchase ages to 21 (but not Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, see Additional Notes below). South Dakota and Wyoming were the final two states to comply with the age 21 mandate. The current purchase age of 21 remains a point of contention among many Americans, because of it being higher than the age of majority (18 in most states) and higher than the purchase ages of most other countries. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act is also seen as a congressional sidestep of the Tenth Amendment. Although debates have not been highly publicized, a few states have proposed legislation to lower their purchase age, [5] while Guam raised its purchase age to 21 in July 2010. [6]

Drinking Age - USA (1969).svg
Minimum legal purchase age as of 1969 (two years before the 26th Amendment was enacted in 1971):
Drinking Age - USA (1975).svg
Minimum legal purchase age as of 1975 (when most states had their lowest age limit):
Detail on dual age limits
Both age limits apply for following states:
Illinois: The legal purchase age is 19 for beer and wine, and 21 for liquor.
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.: The legal purchase age is 18 for beer and wine, and 21 for liquor.
Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota: The legal purchase age is 18 for 3.2% ABV beer, and 21 for beer stronger than 3.2% ABV, wine, and liquor.
Drinking Age - USA (1983).svg
Minimum legal purchase age as of 1983 (one year before the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed):
  Minimum age is 21
  Minimum age is 20
  Minimum age is 19 and 21
  Minimum age is 19
  Minimum age is 18 and 21
  Minimum age is 18
State Pre-Prohibition
(prior to 1919)
Post-Prohibition
(after 1933)
1970s / 26th Amendment
(adopted in 1971)
1980s /
Drinking Age Act of 1984
21st century
Alabama Pre 1881:
None
1881:
21 (none with consent of parent) [7]
211975:
Lowered to 19 [8]
1986:
Raised to 21 [9]
21 (no one underage is allowed consumption Section 28-1)
Alaska N/A21 [8] 1970:
Lowered to 19 [10]
1984:
Raised to 21 with grandfather clause (if born before January 1, 1965) [11] [12]
21 (unless the underage person is not on a licensed premises and the alcoholic beverage is provided by a parent, legal guardian, or spouse over the age of 21) [13]
Arizona N/A21 [12] 1972:
Lowered to 19 [14]
1985:
Raised to 21 [9]
21 [15]
Arkansas Pre 1925:
None [8]
1925:
21 [8]
2121 [16] 21 [9] 21
California Pre 1891:
Regulated by municipality/county (common age was 16) [17] [18] [19]
1891:
18 (statewide) [20]
1933:
21 [8]
2121 [9] 21 (except small amounts for religious ceremonies)
Colorado None [12] (Dec) 1945:
18: for 3.2% near-beer
21: for wine and liquor [8]
18 for 3.2% beer; 21 for wine and liquor [21] Raised to 21 on Jul 31 1987 (with grandfather clause) [9] 21
Connecticut 21 [22] 21 [12] 1972:
Lowered to 18 [23]
1982:
Raised to 19
1983:
Raised to 20
1985:
Raised to 21 [24]
21 (exemptions: (1) a person over age eighteen who is an employee or permit holder under section 30-90a and who possesses alcoholic liquor in the course of such person's employment or business, (2) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor on the order of a practicing physician, or (3) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor while accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse of the minor, who has attained the age of twenty-one. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to burden a person's exercise of religion under section 3 of article first of the Constitution of the state in violation of subsection (a) of section 52-571b. [25]
Delaware N/A21 [12] 1972:
Lowered to 20
1984:
Raised to 21 [9]
21
District of Columbia N/A18: for beer and wine [12]
21: for liquor [26] [27]
18: for beer and wine [27]
21: for liquor
1986:
Raised to 21 with grandfather clause. [28] [29]
21
Florida N/A21 [8] 1976:Lowered to 18

1980:
19 [30]

1986:
Raised to 21 with grandfather clause [30]
21 [31]
Georgia N/A21 [12] 1972:
Lowered to 18 [14]
1982:
Raised to 19 [16]
1985:
Raised to 20 [16]
1986:
Raised to 21 [16]
21
Hawaii N/A21 [8] 1972:
Lowered to 18
1986:
Raised to 21 [9]
21 [32]
Idaho N/A20: for beer [33] [34]
21: for wine and liquor [12] [35]
1972:
Lowered to 19 (all) [36]
1987:
Raised to 21 in 1987 (Apr 11) with grandfather clause [9] [37]
21
Illinois 1872:
Age of majority
(none with written consent of parent) [38]
pre 1961: Age of majority 1961: Raised to 21 [39] 1973:
Lowered to 19: for beer and wine
21: for liquor [40]
1980:
Raised to 21 [41]
21
Indiana N/APost-1934:
21 [8]
21 [16] 21 [9] 21
Iowa N/A21 [8] 1972:
Lowered to 19 in 1972 (Jul 1)
1973:
Lowered to 18 in 1973 (Jul 1)
1978:
Raised to 19 in 1978 (Jul 1) [42]
1986:
Raised to 21 in 1986 (Jul 1) with grandfather clause. [16] [42]
21
Kansas N/A1949:
18: for beer and wine with less than 4% ABV
21: for liquor [8]
18: for beer and wine with less than 4% ABV [16]
21: for beer and wine with 4% ABV or more [16]
21: for liquor [16] [21]
1985:
Raised to 21 [9]
21 (However, anyone under 21 may consume cereal malt beverages with parental supervision on their own property)
Kentucky N/A1938:
21 [8]
21 [16] 21 [9] 21
Louisiana None18 [43] 18 [21] 1987:
Raised to 21 de jure in 1987, [9]
but de facto age was still 18 until 1995 due to a sale loophole.
1995:
De facto age raised to 21 in 1995 when loophole was closed. [44]
1996:
In 1996, briefly lowered by Louisiana Supreme Court to 18 until it reversed its decision, raising to 21 three months later. [45]
Other exceptions still remain. [46]
21 (Exceptions to state law include): [47]


*For an established religious purpose;

*When a person under twenty-one years of age is accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian twenty-one years of age or older;

*For medical purposes when purchased as an over the counter medication, or when prescribed or administered by a licensed physician, pharmacist, dentist, nurse, hospital, or medical institution;

*In a private residence, which shall include a residential dwelling and up to twenty contiguous acres, on which the dwelling is located, owned by the same person who owns the dwelling;

*The sale, handling, transport, or service in dispensing of any alcoholic beverage pursuant to lawful ownership of an establishment or to lawful employment of a person under twenty-one years of age by a duly licensed manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of beverage alcohol.

Maine N/A21 [8]
1969:
Lowered to 20
1972:
Lowered to 18 [14]
1977:
Raised to 20 [9] [48]
1985:
Raised to 21 [9]
21 (however minors can drink at home with parental supervision) [49]
Maryland N/A21 [8] 1974:
Lowered to 18: for beer and wine
21: for liquor [50] [51]
1982:
Raised to 21 with grandfather clause for those born June 30, 1964, or earlier [52] [9] [53]
21 (however anyone can drink when parents, spouses, teachers are present)
Massachusetts N/A21 [12] 1973:
Lowered to 18
1979:
Raised to 20 in 1979 (Apr 16) [54] [55] [56]
Raised to 21 in 1985 [9] (with grandfather clause)21
Michigan N/A21 [8] 1972:
Lowered to 18 in 1972 (Jan 1) [57]
1978:
Raised to 19 in 1978 (Dec 3) [58] [59]
1978:
Raised to 21 in 1978 (Dec 21), 18 days later. [9]
First state to raise age to 21 since it was lowered
21
Minnesota N/A21 [12] 1973:
Lowered to 18 (June 1)
1976:
Raised to 19 (Sept 1) [60]
First state to raise age after lowering.
1986:
Raised to 21 [61]
21
Mississippi  ?1966:
18: for beer and wine
21: for liquor [8]
(alcohol not legalized until 1966)
21 [21] Raised to 21 in 1986 [9] 21
Missouri  ?1945:
21 [8]
2121 [9] 21
Montana  ?21 [12] 1971:
Lowered to 19 [62]
1973:
Lowered to 18 [63] [64]
1979:
Raised to 19
1987:
Raised to 21 [9] [65]
21
Nebraska  ?21 [66]
1969:
Lowered to 20
1972:
Lowered to 19 [66]
1980:
Raised to 20 [16]
1985:
Raised to 21 [16]
21
Nevada  ?1933:
21 [8]
2121 [9] 21
New Hampshire  ?21 [12] 1973:
Lowered to 18 [67]
1979:
Raised to 20
1985:
Raised to 21 [9] [24]
21
New Jersey Before 1880:
None
Post-1880:
18 (penalties only against businesses) [68] [69] [70]
21[ citation needed ]1973:
Lowered to 18 [14]
1980:
Raised to 19
1983:
Raised to 21 [9] [71]
21 (As of February 22, 2021, there are no longer any penalties for underage drinking besides warnings.)
New Mexico  ?1934:
21 [8]
21 [16] 21 [9] 21
New York 18 (16 before 1896)Initially 21 immediately after Prohibition, then reduced to 18 four months later. [72] [73] 181982:
Raised to 19 in 1982 (Dec)
1985:
Raised to 21 in 1985 (Dec) [24] [74] [75]
21

(Any Age with Parental Consent)

North Carolina  ?18 [12] 18: for beer and wine [21]
21: for liquor
1983:
19: for beer and wine
21: for liquor
1986:
Raised to 21 in 1986 (Sep 1) [9] [29]
21
North Dakota  ?1936:
21 [8]
21 [16] 21 [76] 21
Ohio  ?1933: 16 1935:
18: for 3.2% ABW beer
21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor [77]
18: for 3.2% ABW beer
21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor
1982 (Aug. 19 to Oct. 1):
19: for 3.2% ABW beer [16]
21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor [16]
1982 (From Oct. 1):
19: beer
21: wine and liquor [78]
1988:
21 [16]
21 (However, anyone can drink with parents or legal-age spouse)
Oklahoma  ?Men:
21
Women:
18: 3.2% ABW beer
21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor [79]
1976:
Lowered to 18 (for 3.2% ABW beer) for both sexes in 1976 (Dec) [80]
Last state to lower the purchase age.
1983:
Raised to 21 [12] [81]
21
Oregon  ?1933:
21 [8]
2121 [9] 21
Pennsylvania  ?1935:
21 [8]
2121 [9] [59] 21
Rhode Island  ?21 [12] 1970:
Lowered to 18 [14] [82]
1980:
Raised to 19
1981:
Raised to 20
1984:
Raised to 21 [24]
21
South Carolina 21 [83] 1935:
18: for beer and wine
21: for liquor [8]
18 [21]
1984:
19: for beer and wine [8]
21: for liquor
1985:
Raised to 20 [9]
1986:
Raised to 21 [9]
21
South Dakota  ?1934:
21 (all)
1939:
Lowered to 18: for 3.2% beer
Raised to 19: for 3.2% beer [84]
1972:
18: for 3.2% beer;
21: for wine and liquor
1984:
19: for beer and wine
21: for liquor [9]
1988:
Raised to 21 [65]
21
Tennessee Pre 1881:
None
1881:
21 [85]
21 [8]
1964:
Lowered to 18 [8]
1979:
Raised to 19
1984:
Raised to 21 [9]
21
Texas Pre 1909:
21
None (with written permission of parent or guardian)
Post 1909:
21 [86] [87]
21 [8] 1973:
Lowered to 18 [88]
1981:
Raised to 19 [89]
1986:
Raised to 21 in 1986 (Sep 1) [9] [29]
Parent consent
Utah  ?1935:
21 [8]
21 [16] 21 [9] 21
Vermont  ?21 [8] 1971:
Lowered to 18 [90] [91]
1986:
Raised to 21 [24] [91]
21
Virginia  ?21 [92] 1974:
Lowered to 18: for beer and wine
(21: for liquor remained) [92]
1981:
Raised to 19 for off-premises consumption
1983:
Raised to 19 (all beer)
1985:
Raised to 21 [92]
21
Washington Age of majority
since 1877 [93]
21 [94] 2121 [9] 21
West Virginia  ?18: for beer and wine
21: for liquor [12]
1972:
Lowered to 18 (all) [95]
1983:
Raised to 19
(& 21 for non-residents) [9] [48]
1986:
Raised to 21 [9]
21
Wisconsin 1839–1866:
18: for wine and liquor
None: for beer
Post-1866:
21 (all) [96]
18: for beer
21: for wine and spirits
1957:
21: for residents of bordering states with age limit 21. [97]
1963:
Raised to 21 (off-premises beer sales, remained 18 for on-premises). [97]
1972:
Lowered to 18 (all) in 1972 (Mar) [97]
1977:
Border state restriction lifted. [97]
1984:
Raised to 19
1986:
Raised to 21 (September 1, 1986) [97]
21 (however anyone can drink when a parent, guardian or spouse over 21 is present) [98]
Wyoming N/A21 [8] 1973:
Lowered to 19
1988:
Raised to 21 in 1988 (Jul 1) [99] [100]
Last state to raise de jure purchase age to 21
21
American Samoa N/AN/AN/A2121 [101]
Northern Mariana Islands N/A2121 [102]
Puerto Rico N/A1818Kept at 18
despite highway funding
penalty under the National Minimum Drinking Age Act.
18 [103]
Virgin Islands N/AN/AN/A1818 [104]
Guam N/A211818Raised to 21 in 2010 [6]

Additional notes

Related Research Articles

In law, a minor is someone under a certain age, usually the age of majority, which demarcates an underage individual from legal adulthood. The age of majority depends upon jurisdiction and application, but it is commonly 18. Minor may also be used in contexts that are unconnected to the overall age of majority. For example, the smoking and drinking age in the United States is 21, and younger people below this age are sometimes called minors in the context of tobacco and alcohol law, even if they are at least 18. The terms underage or minor often refer to those under the age of majority, but may also refer to a person under other legal age limits, such as the age of consent, marriageable age, driving age, voting age, working age, etc. Such age limits are often different from the age of majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legal drinking age</span> Minimum age at which a person can legally purchase or consume alcoholic beverages

The legal drinking age is the minimum age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages. The minimum age alcohol can be legally consumed can be different from the age when it can be purchased in some countries. These laws vary between countries and many laws have exemptions or special circumstances. Most laws apply only to drinking alcohol in public places with alcohol consumption in the home being mostly unregulated. Some countries also have different age limits for different types of alcohol drinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Minimum Drinking Age Act</span> 1984 U.S. law which indirectly raised the nationwide minimum drinking age to 21

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 was passed by the United States Congress and was later signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on July 17, 1984. The act would punish any state that allowed persons under 21 years to purchase alcoholic beverages by reducing its annual federal highway apportionment by 10 percent. The law was later amended, lowering the penalty to 8 percent from fiscal year 2012 and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol consumption by youth in the United States</span>

Although the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol is 21 in all U.S. states and most territories, the legal details for consumption vary greatly. Although some states completely ban alcohol usage for people under 18, the majority have exceptions that permit consumption.

In the United States, a Minor in Possession or a MIP, is any person under the legal drinking age of 21 who possesses or consumes alcohol. Underage consumption is illegal, typically a misdemeanor. In California, depending on the county in which the person is charged, the crime may also be charged as an infraction. Anyone under the age of 21 who possesses alcohol in the United States with the exception of special circumstances is violating the law of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol laws in Germany</span>

The German laws regulating alcohol use and sale are mostly focused on youth protection. In contrast to many other countries, legislation is relatively lenient and not designed to keep young people away from alcohol, but rather intended to teach them an appropriate approach to alcohol consumption, which is reflected by one of the lowest drinking ages in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol laws of New York</span>

Alcohol laws of New York are a set of laws specific to manufacturing, purchasing, serving, selling, and consuming alcohol in the state of New York. Combined with federal and local laws, as well as vendor policies, alcohol laws of New York determine the state's legal drinking age, the driving under the influence limit, liquor license requirements, server training, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol laws of Pennsylvania</span>

The alcohol laws of Pennsylvania contain many peculiarities not found in other states, and are considered some of the strictest regulations in the United States.

Alcohol laws of West Virginia are more complex on paper than in actual practice, owing to a provision of the state constitution and "work-arounds" of its terms.

Alcohol laws of Maryland vary considerably by county, due to the wide latitude of home rule granted to Maryland counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol laws of New Jersey</span>

The state laws governing alcoholic beverages in New Jersey are among the most complex in the United States, with many peculiarities not found in other states' laws. They provide for 29 distinct liquor licenses granted to manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and for the public warehousing and transport of alcoholic drinks. General authority for the statutory and regulatory control of alcoholic drinks rests with the state government, particularly the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control overseen by the state's Attorney General.

Alcohol laws of Australia are laws that regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The legal drinking age is 18 throughout Australia. The minimum age for the purchase of alcoholic products in Australia is 18. A licence is required to produce or sell alcohol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol law</span> Law pertaining to alcoholic beverages

Alcohol laws are laws relating to manufacture, use, being under the influence of and sale of alcohol or alcoholic beverages. Common alcoholic beverages include beer, wine, (hard) cider, and distilled spirits. Definition of alcoholic beverage varies internationally, e.g., the United States defines an alcoholic beverage as "any beverage in liquid form which contains not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume". Alcohol laws can restrict those who can produce alcohol, those who can buy it, when one can buy it, labelling and advertising, the types of alcoholic beverage that can be sold, where one can consume it, what activities are prohibited while intoxicated, and where one can buy it. In some cases, laws have even prohibited the use and sale of alcohol entirely.

The alcohol laws of Wisconsin consist of both statewide statutes and local ordinances governing the sale of alcohol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol laws of Massachusetts</span>

The serving of alcohol in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is governed by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), which is responsible for issuing licenses and permits for all manufacturers, wholesalers and importers, out-of-state suppliers, brokers, salespeople, warehouses, planes, trains, ships, ship chandlers and vehicles transporting alcoholic beverages.

Binge drinking is the practice of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Due to the idiosyncrasies of the human body, the exact amount of alcohol that would constitute binge drinking differs among individuals. The definitions of binge drinking are also nuanced across cultures and population subgroups. For example, many studies use gender-specific measures of binge drinking. The epidemiology of binge drinking likewise differs across cultures and population subgroups.

The legal drinking age varies from country to country. In the United States, the legal drinking age is currently 21. To curb excessive alcohol consumption by younger people, instead of raising the drinking age, other countries have raised the prices of alcohol beverages and encouraged the general public to drink less. Setting a legal drinking age of 21 is designed to discourage reckless alcohol consumption by youth, limiting consumption to those who are more mature, who can be expected to make reasonable and wise decisions when it comes to drinking.

The legal drinking age in India and the laws which regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol vary significantly from state to state. In India, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland, and Mizoram, as well as the union territory of Lakshadweep. There is partial ban on alcohol in some districts of Manipur. All other Indian states permit alcohol consumption but fix a legal drinking age, which ranges at different ages per region. In some states the legal drinking age can be different for different types of alcoholic beverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol use among college students</span> Unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviors by college students

Many students attending colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions consume alcoholic beverages. The laws and social culture around this practice vary by country and institution type, and within an institution, some students may drink heavily whereas others may not drink at all. In the United States, drinking tends to be particularly associated with fraternities.

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