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

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]

Minimum legal purchase age as of 1969 (two years before the 26th Amendment was enacted in 1971):

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.

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