Why does the USA have such extreme alcohol laws?

Question

For anyone who doesn't know, the legal drinking age is 21. The following is a comprehensive list of other countries with a legal drinking age of 21+.

Egypt
India (certain states)
Malaysia
Nepal
Sri Lanka

The only other countries with even stricter laws are Islamic countries that ban alcohol entirely. Most civilised countries say 16 or 18.

Why is the USA so strict? Is it a christian thing? How well enforced is the law? Are there any plans or calls to lower the age?

enviroman2222: Where in any of this did anyone mention England exactly? Idiot.

Answer 1

Americans are not very responsible about their drinking. They also tend to blame others for their drinking (for example, in New Mexico there is a pending law that will make the server/bartender liable if a patron is stopped for drunk driving two hours after leaving the establishment and have a blood alcohol level of .14 or higher).

America also has rather Conservative tendencies.

As a server, you are required to card anyone that looks under the age of 30. On occasion, undercover teens will attempt to buy alcohol.. if they are not carded the server and establishment will be fined.

Answer 2

I believe Russia also has a 21 year age, for spirits and wine, but not for malt beverages.

In any case, for the USA 21 became traditional after prohibition, except for New York where the age was set at 18, and except for several states that allowed under 21s (some states 19, some 20) to buy and drink beer, or 3.2 beer. And there were also some sex-based exemptions in a few states where married women under 21 were allowed to drink publically with their husbands if their husbands were 21 or older.

In the late 60s with the passage of the 18 year old voting amendment to the constitution and the proposed equal rights amendment many states reduced the drinking age (and other laws of majority) also to 18, and eliminated sexual differences. The age was uniformly set or restored to 21 during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, who said - quote - "I just think it should be 21" and attained this by getting passed by Congress an amendment to the federal highway construction funding law which would withhold monies from states that did not cooperate. (So much for Reagan Republicanism's support of "states' rights.) The US Supreme Court voted in favor of this when it was challenged by a state - I think it was South Dakota - a couple of years later, using a very convoluted theory; basically deciding that states could "voluntarily" succumb in a state law to Federal bribery on a different issue
and maintenance.

So why is the age so high in the first place? I believe largely because of the history in the USA that alcohol was (and is), compared to most other (non-muslim) cultures so much used irresponsibly - for getting high, for losing inhibitions, etc., etc. instead of as a social accompaniment, often with meals in family or
in larger group controlled social settings (like
the French cafe and Irish pub), and in societies where study of effects of alcohol use and abuse is often a required public school course of study. When the age in many USA states was lowered in the 60s no state to my knowledge proposed comprehensive high school education, and none in the alcohol industry suggested it either. Not surprisingly, Reagan's action followed a period of great increase in fatal alcohol-related auto crashes among 16-20 year olders (although the rate of 22-25s went down! And, even today, the incidence of new drinkers' propensity to binge drink is very high in the USA, unfortunately. There simply is no political will for a broad program of alcohol education or for pressuring parents and guardians to teach children how to drink responsibly at home.

Answer 3

Personally, I work for a controlled liquor distribution store and I believe that the legal age should be 21... You have no idea how many 19 year olds come in 3 or 4 times a night (and I can only assume) to purchase alcohol for minors... Then again, a 21 year old might do the same.

We're all in a rush to grow up... I was too... but now that I am a little older, I wish things would start slowing down... (But they only get faster...)...

I don't disagree with an adult allowing their child to "experiment" with alcohol to understand their personal tolerance - as long as it is done responsibly. I think every young adult should experiment in the home (and I'm not suggesting to get drunk, but to know their limit) under the supervision of their parent/guardian. This allows them to have the "thrill" of trying the drink without doing it illegally... Then, if they go out with their friends, chances are they might drink responsibly if in fact drinking *has* to be done.

Sorry for going off topic... but being from Canada (not Québec where the legal age is 18) - I don't understand why our legal age isn't raised to 21... US has it right.

Answer 4

If you like it, it's a sin. That about sums up a great deal of religious/moral thought in the US for a good amount of it's history, leading to Prohibition and similar laws.

Laws are only changed when people are involved in their democracy. The youth, who would be the only ones with an interest in lowering the drinking age, are not sufficiently politically active to push for a lowering of the drinking age, so it stays as is. There are no plans that I know of to lower the drinking age.

The law is enforced depending on the community. In many strongly christian communities it is strict, if the whole community doesn't decide to ban alcohol completely. In others, it's possible to get an adult friend to buy alcohol for minors, though it's sometimes difficult and still illegal.

Answer 5

The USA was initially founded by Puritans who were escaping religous intolerence throughout Europe. They had and have very strict beliefs which still affect our countries moral compass eben today. However it must be noted that alcohol in moderation has many medicinal benefits to the degree that some doctors insist that their pregant patients drink a glass of red wine a day or a small glass of beer.
Because of our extreme in the drinking age (In Germany I saw a ten year old drinking a kiddie portioned beer) and the psycological effects to those under the drinking age, we make a big deal out of drinking at an early age which tends to lead to an excess, instead of behaving as though it was no big deal, which it isn't.

Answer 6

Most European countries are far more Christian than the US. It is just that in the US, the goverment realizes that People under the age of 21 (based on scientific research) do not have developed enough brains to make reasonable decisions regarding alcohol (of course the same is true of sex, driving and going to war, but the government has yet to figure that out). The fact is, that the Muslims have the right idea. People in general don't have the sense to make responsible decisions regarding alcohol.

Answer 7

They have lowered the age before.

1934 Original ABC Act stated that the legal age for purchase, possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverage was 21 years of age.

1974 Legal Drinking Age (LDA) for beer lowered from 21 to 18. LDA for wine and liquor remained at 21 years old.

1981 LDA for beer remains at 18 for on-premises consumption and is raised to 19 for off-premises consumption.

1983 LDA is raised to 19 years old for all sales of beer.

1985 Persons born on or after July 1, 1966 will be able to purchase beer, wine and liquor on and after their 21st birthday. Persons born before July 1, 1966 will retain the privilege to purchase, possess and consume beer.

1987 LDA raised to 21 for all alcoholic beverages.

Also it seems that in the 80's there was a lot of people getting killed in auto accidents that involved alcohol. The thinking seemed to be not neccesarily the age group but that taking out an age group would lower how many people could be out there driving drunk. But at the same time it was raised back to 21 seat belt laws also came to be so they realy aren't sure that it made a big difference.


Interestingly wikpedia has a list of countries and drinking ages.

Answer 8

If you recall, the US lowered it's legal drinking age to 18 a few years back and it caused quite a bit of problems. Especially with underage drinking and motor vehicle accidents. At 16 or 18 a person usually isn't mature enough to handle the responsibility of controlling his actions while intoxicated. There are a few exceptions however. But all good things come to those who wait.

Answer 9

I have to ask that myself,but I believe many of the extreme laws areoutdated. In my Home country Germany you have to be 16 to buy and drink Alcohol.Of course you are not to permitted to drive,though this is changing slowly.
Here in the US you can sell Alcohol under 21 as a Store Clerk but you can not buy it, that makes no sense to me. Laws should be updated.

Answer 10

Most US laws are strange. I do think though they are correct with the Alcohol age limit. It should be raised elsewhere. But the legal driving age should be raised too. In the US kids can drive at 15, in the UK its 18 which is way more appropriate!