In the 1970’s, many states lowered their drinking ages from 21 to 18, at the same time that voting rights were extended to 18-year-olds. Then in the 1980’s, pressure from the federal government led states to raise the drinking age back to 21. Now, several states are considering lowering it again.

The proponents of lowering the age for legal purchase of alcohol contend that men and women who are old enough to serve in the military are old enough to drink.  Legislation that would lower the drinking age for only military personnel has been introduced in Kentucky, Wisconsin and South Carolina.  A ballot initiative planned in Missouri would lower the drinking age to 18, and an initiative being worked on in South Dakota would allow those 19 and older to buy beer with low alcohol content.  The Vermont legislature is considering assigning a task force to study the issue.  A bill pending in Minnesota would allow anyone 18 and older to drink in bars or restaurants but would not allow anyone under the age of 21 to purchase alcohol in liquor stores. 

In 1984 Congress approved a measure that would penalize states that set the drinking age below 21 by withholding 10 percent of their federal highway funds.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, setting the drinking age at 21 has reduced traffic fatalities among drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 by 13 percent.  Chuck Hurley, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which opposes lowering the drinking age, says that the organization welcomed the attention to the issue.

States Weigh Lowering the Drinking Age (USA Today 3/21/08)

April 1, 2008