Why is the drinking age 21 in usa?

Question

I dont understand this at all. I recently turned 18, and I can legally drink alcohol in EVERY country in the world except the united states. I am a european immigrant, and in europe you can drink at 16 in some countries. Dont people here understand that the more you prohibit something, the more people will abuse it? Why do you think that when the drinking age is lower, less people drink(proven)?? You can do everything at 18, except drink? Someone please explain this to me I am very confused.

Rise in deaths substantial? Have you been brainwashed?

Answer 1

It actually has more to do with drinking and driving.
Teenagers who drink are more likely to die in a car crash.
When the drinking age was lowered long ago, the rise in deaths was apparently substantial.
I do tend to agree with you that the law should be 18 (as do many other Americans) but the law makers do not want to have the blood of teenagers on their hands.

To the follow up question: Hell if I know. That is the only logical thing they can come up with to justify the law. The vast majority of Americans think 21 is ridiculous, but nobody can seem to get the law changed.

Answer 2

Age of adulthood is 21 in old common law. Under 21 can be considered 'child' and some states have other variations for allowing under 21s to do various things. Wisconsin had drinking at 18 years back and a lot of Illinois teenagers drove weekends to Wisconsin-some didn't make it back. Federal transportation money people said they would with hold 10% highway funds from states that didn't have 21 drinking age, state decided that non voting under 21s were not a magor concern as compared to older voters wanting roads fixed from already paid excise tax money being held back.

Answer 3

Because R. Reagan said so. During the late 70's, early 80's the age was drop 18. But, His administration's agenda was to "get government off the backs of the people" . Which they barely did but they were very effective at putting it on a crash course with personal freedoms. Then there was that fanatical group Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Answer 4

The government is worried that the people who are under 21 will be irresponsible in terms of alcohol, get drunk, drive and kill people.

Personally I think its stupid. At 18 you can smoke and you can die for your country but you can't have a drink.

Answer 5

We tried the 18 drinking age. A large number of problems cropped up in large number. Accident rates increase in the 18 to 21 age group. Drinking in schools increased, etc...

As for the idea that if you legalize something the abuse goes down... let's legalize murder for just a year and see if the ratio of abuse supports your theory.

Answer 6

A very powerful lobbying group called MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) got together about 25 years ago and pressured the government to pass this law. Too many car accidents had something to do with this. I agree with you though. It is a ridiculous law. Which leads me to ask you, wouldn't it be better to be back in Europe?

Answer 7

Because insurance companies want the drinking age to be 25, but 18-20 year-olds don't vote (I said don't, not can't).

Answer 8

In New York its 23

Answer 9

In Europe one can drink and get on a train to get home. In the USA they get behind a wheel and crash into innocent people.

Answer 10

Reagan is NOT responsible - it this whole screwed up overly prudish religious country. We have so many alcoholics because of the forbidden fruit effect.