In America, you become a full citizen at the age of 18. You can be drafted into the military, get married, and buy a house – but having a beer is a crime.
How did this happen? The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 blackmailed state governments into increasing their drinking age to 21 by threatening to deny them 10% of their fair share of transportation funding if they refused.
Despite this law, it’s still very common for adults under 21 to drink. Knowing that many 18-20 year olds are going to drink whether it’s legal or not, we should:
•Stop scaring young people who may have alcohol poisoning from getting the medical attention they need.
•Recognize that denying an adult citizen the right to buy a beer is a violation of his or her personal liberty.