Drinking Age

[muon2]

one problem is that it is technically still a state decision. However, the federal government tied access to highway funds to states with a minimum age of 21. The linkage survived court challenges at the time, and no state could afford its highway system without federal assistance. Thus, we have a national standard dictated by federal control of the highway trust fund.

I've spoken to some of my German friends on this issue. We discovered an important difference. The US makes access to driving much easier than do the Germans. They also felt that teen drinking and driving is a problem, but they feel that it is better to restrict the driving than the drinking.

[muon2]

one problem is that it is technically still a state decision. However, the federal government tied access to highway funds to states with a minimum age of 21. The linkage survived court challenges at the time, and no state could afford its highway system without federal assistance. Thus, we have a national standard dictated by federal control of the highway trust fund.

Then it REALLY is NOT a state decision, is it?

I'm not in favor of the way the federal government passed down this mandate. But the method was clever since it allowed the circumvention of state control over alcohol, which otherwise is untouchable with the 21st amendment.

The state decision is whether to set their own minimum drinking age, or to augment their road funds with federal money. Needless to say, every state that was not at 21 opted for the latter.

[muon2]

Remember that there is no national restriction on drinking under the age of 21. There is a restriction on getting Federal highway funds for any state without a drinking age of 21. Any state that wishes to forego its share of Federal highway money may do so.

Seriously, the probelm revolves around drinking, driving, and high school. States with drinking ages of 18 and even 19 had problems with high school drinking and driving. A solution to those problems would take the most important steps to a revised drinking age.

[muon2]

Remember that there is no national restriction on drinking under the age of 21. There is a restriction on getting Federal highway funds for any state without a drinking age of 21. Any state that wishes to forego its share of Federal highway money may do so.

Does Rhode Island get much money from Federal highway funds?  I'd love eto see Rhode Island become "Rogue Island" again.

That would drive MA and CT crazy.