| Return Our Rights 18, 19, 20 |
| Our mission is to raise awareness among 18, 19, & 20 year olds to defend their rights to purchase & consume alcohol as adult, American consumers. |
HISTORY of Drinking Regulations
For almost 40 years, most states voluntarily set their minimum drinking age law at 21.
But at the height of the Vietnam War in the early 1970s, 29 states began lowering their
drinking age to more closely align with the newly reduced military enlistment and voting
age. And of those 29 states, no uniformity in age limits—drinking ages varied from 18 to
20.
The results of this “natural experiment” were fairly immediate. The decrease in the
drinking age brought about an increase in alcohol traffic fatalities and injuries. So much
so that, by 1983, 16 states voluntarily raised their drinking age back to 21—a move that
brought about an immediate decrease in drinking and driving traffic fatalities incidents.
On July 17, 1984, President Reagan signed into law the Uniform Drinking Age Act
mandating all states to adopt 21 as the legal drinking age within five years. By 1988, all
states had set 21 as the minimum drinking age. However some states kept a lower
drinking age, including Louisiana. Under the Napoleonic Code that rules Louisiana, it
still allowed those who were 18 to consume alcohol. Basically, this meant that anyone
who was 18 could still drink, and buy. And they did.
In 1984, the United States Congress passed legislation, the National Minimum Drinking
Age Act, withholding 10% of Federal-Aid Highway Act funds from states that did not
adopt a minimum legal age of 21 for the purchase and possession of alcohol.
(www.why21.org)
For almost 40 years, most states voluntarily set their minimum drinking age law at 21.
But at the height of the Vietnam War in the early 1970s, 29 states began lowering their
drinking age to more closely align with the newly reduced military enlistment and voting
age. And of those 29 states, no uniformity in age limits—drinking ages varied from 18 to
20.
The results of this “natural experiment” were fairly immediate. The decrease in the
drinking age brought about an increase in alcohol traffic fatalities and injuries. So much
so that, by 1983, 16 states voluntarily raised their drinking age back to 21—a move that
brought about an immediate decrease in drinking and driving traffic fatalities incidents.
On July 17, 1984, President Reagan signed into law the Uniform Drinking Age Act
mandating all states to adopt 21 as the legal drinking age within five years. By 1988, all
states had set 21 as the minimum drinking age. However some states kept a lower
drinking age, including Louisiana. Under the Napoleonic Code that rules Louisiana, it
still allowed those who were 18 to consume alcohol. Basically, this meant that anyone
who was 18 could still drink, and buy. And they did.
In 1984, the United States Congress passed legislation, the National Minimum Drinking
Age Act, withholding 10% of Federal-Aid Highway Act funds from states that did not
adopt a minimum legal age of 21 for the purchase and possession of alcohol.
(www.why21.org)
For more information on how you can support the cause & raise awareness,
please visit the links below:
Sign a Petition to Lower the U.S. Legal Drinking Age
National Youth Rights Association
please visit the links below:
Sign a Petition to Lower the U.S. Legal Drinking Age
National Youth Rights Association
FAT CITY, NEW ORLEANS
Sponsored by
| A new film by Mouton Productions reflecting on 1979 New Orleans & a not-so-long ago time of "Minimum Drinking Age 18." |
European Philosophy
European countries exhibit lower to non-existent drinking ages. In Europe, the
consensus is that when alcohol is not exiled into a corner of society, it is
demystified, and therefore a less alluring vice. Teens growing up in Europe are
no strangers to alcohol and therefore have no desire to abuse it. Basically, it is a
difference of philosophy.
European countries exhibit lower to non-existent drinking ages. In Europe, the
consensus is that when alcohol is not exiled into a corner of society, it is
demystified, and therefore a less alluring vice. Teens growing up in Europe are
no strangers to alcohol and therefore have no desire to abuse it. Basically, it is a
difference of philosophy.
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