While the legal drinking age is 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in 47 of 50 states, age 18 is the "age of majority," which generally entails having the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. Every state sets its own "age of majority" which often corresponds with the age at which one can vote, join the military, serve in jury duty, sign contracts, marry, apply for credit and loans, make decisions regarding medical treatments, and be prosecuted as an adult.
The United States is the one of the only developed nations whose drinking age is greater than the age of 18. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, China, France, and Singapore hold their drinking age at or lower than 18. Even our neighbors to the north, Canada, have a drinking age of 18.