(2) State Acquired Rights Act as compliant. If, before October 1, 1986 or (B) on the tenth day after the last day of the first session, the legislature of a state meets after the date of enactment of this paragraph, that state shall in fact have a law prohibiting a person from publicly purchasing and possessing an alcoholic beverage in that state, who is under 21 years of age (other than a person who is 18 years of age or older on the day preceding the date on which this Act comes into force and who, at that time, may lawfully purchase or publicly possess liquor in that State), that State shall be deemed to be in force for each taxation year in which this Act is in force: subsection (1). This limit remained constant until the late 1960s and 1970s. Meanwhile, many states have lowered the minimum drinking age to 18. France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Greece all have a minimum drinking age of 18. In Asia, Singapore has the strictest alcohol laws. The sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited from 10:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. However, in many other Asian countries, alcohol laws do not exist or are very flexible.

Cambodia, Macau and Vietnam do not have a minimum age to buy or consume alcohol. In Lithuania, it is illegal to sell, serve or provide alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 20. At that time, many states changed their minimum voting age to match the drinking age. Most laws only apply to alcohol consumption in public places and not to alcohol consumption in private homes. Some countries also have a minimum age for certain beverages, such as distilled alcohol. Since the end of prohibition in 1933, the state has frequently changed the minimum drinking age. Under the 21st Amendment, passed in December 1933, most set their legal drinking age at 21. U.S. alcohol laws regarding the minimum age of purchase have changed over time. In colonial America, there was usually no drinking age, and alcohol consumption among young teenagers was common, even in taverns. [1] In post-revolutionary America, this laxity gradually changed due to religious sentiments (embodied in the temperance movement) and a growing recognition of the dangers of alcohol in the medical community. [1] Recent history is given in the table below.

Unless otherwise stated, if there are different minimum ages of purchase for different categories of alcohol, the age listed below will be set at the lowest age indicated (for example, if the age of purchase is 18 for beer and 21 for wine or spirits, as has been the case in several states, the age in the table will be read as “18” rather than “21”). In addition, the age of purchase is not necessarily the same as the minimum age to consume alcoholic beverages, although they are often the same. A state`s exemption from the MLDA may also be site-specific. Some state laws only allow minors to legally consume alcohol in a parent`s or guardian`s private home, while others only allow alcohol consumption on authorized premises accompanied by their parents, guardians, or spouses. States like Texas allow minors to drink in places licensed to sell alcohol, such as a restaurant or bar, if their parents are present and allow it. As part of undercover work or research, it is legal in some states for a minor employed in law enforcement to purchase and consume alcohol. This is an understandable attempt to keep these enforcement efforts unhindered. In Canada, there is no federal law setting a minimum age for drinking. Each province and territory can set its own legal drinking age. Alcohol consumption varies by state, but age doesn`t matter. Globally, the United States ranks 25th in alcohol consumption with about 8.7 liters of pure alcohol per person per year.

There are also laws to protect underage drinkers from prosecution if they report or seek medical help for another minor. Currently, seventeen states provide exceptions related to underage drinking when seeking medical assistance for another minor.