State | Pre-Prohibition (prior to 1919) | Post-Prohibition (after 1933) | 1970s / 26th Amendment (adopted in 1971) | 1980s / Drinking Age Act of 1984 | 21st century |
Alabama | Pre 1881: None 1881: 21 (none with consent of parent)[7] | 21 | 1975: Lowered to 19[8] | 1986: Raised to 21[9] | 21 (no one underage is allowed consumption Section 28-1) |
Alaska | N/A | 21[8] | 1970: Lowered to 19[10] | 1984: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause (if born before January 1, 1965)[11][12] | 21 (unless the underage person is not on a licensed premises and the alcoholic beverage is provided by a parent, legal guardian, or spouse over the age of 21) [13] |
Arizona | N/A | 21[12] | 1972: Lowered to 19[14] | 1985: Raised to 21[9] | 21 [15] |
Arkansas | Pre 1925: None[8] 1925: 21[8] | 21 | 21[16] | 21[9] | 21 |
California | Pre 1891: Regulated by municipality/county (common age was 16)[17][18][19] 1891: 18 (statewide)[20] | 1933: 21[8] | 21 | 21[9] | 21 (except small amounts for religious ceremonies) |
Colorado | None[12] | (Dec) 1945: 18: for 3.2% near-beer 21: for wine and liquor[8] | 18 for 3.2% beer; 21 for wine and liquor [21] | Raised to 21 on Jul 31 1987 (with grandfather clause) [9] | 21 |
Connecticut | 21[22] | 21[12] | 1972: Lowered to 18[23] | 1982: Raised to 19 1983: Raised to 20 1985: Raised to 21[24] | 21 (exemptions: (1) a person over age eighteen who is an employee or permit holder under section 30-90a and who possesses alcoholic liquor in the course of such person's employment or business, (2) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor on the order of a practicing physician, or (3) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor while accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse of the minor, who has attained the age of twenty-one. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to burden a person's exercise of religion under section 3 of article first of the Constitution of the state in violation of subsection (a) of section 52-571b.[25] |
Delaware | N/A | 21[12] | 1972: Lowered to 20 | 1984: Raised to 21[9] | 21 |
District of Columbia | N/A | 18: for beer and wine[12] 21: for liquor[26][27] | 18: for beer and wine[27] 21: for liquor | 1986: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause.[28][29] | 21 |
Florida | N/A | 21[8] | 1976:Lowered to 18 1980: 19[30] | 1986: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause[30] | 21[31] |
Georgia | N/A | 21[12] | 1972: Lowered to 18[14] | 1982: Raised to 19[16] 1985: Raised to 20[16] 1986: Raised to 21[16] | 21 |
Hawaii | N/A | 21[8] | 1972: Lowered to 18 | 1986: Raised to 21[9] | 21 [32] |
Idaho | N/A | 20: for beer[33][34] 21: for wine and liquor[12][35] | 1972: Lowered to 19 (all)[36] | 1987: Raised to 21 in 1987 (Apr 11) with grandfather clause[9][37] | 21 |
Illinois | 1872: Age of majority (none with written consent of parent)[38] | pre 1961: Age of majority 1961: Raised to 21[39] | 1973: Lowered to 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor[40] | 1980: Raised to 21[41] | 21 |
Indiana | N/A | Post-1934: 21[8] | 21[16] | 21[9] | 21 |
Iowa | N/A | 21[8] | 1972: Lowered to 19 in 1972 (Jul 1) 1973: Lowered to 18 in 1973 (Jul 1) 1978: Raised to 19 in 1978 (Jul 1)[42] | 1986: Raised to 21 in 1986 (Jul 1) with grandfather clause.[16][42] | 21 |
Kansas | N/A | 1949: 18: for beer and wine with less than 4% ABV 21: for liquor[8] | 18: for beer and wine with less than 4% ABV[16] 21: for beer and wine with 4% ABV or more[16] 21: for liquor[16][21] | 1985: Raised to 21[9] | 21 (However, anyone under 21 may consume cereal malt beverages with parental supervision on their own property) |
Kentucky | N/A | 1938: 21[8] | 21[16] | 21[9] | 21 |
Louisiana | None | 18[43] | 18[21] | 1987: Raised to 21 de jure in 1987,[9] but de facto age was still 18 until 1995 due to a sale loophole. 1995: De facto age raised to 21 in 1995 when loophole was closed.[44] 1996: In 1996, briefly lowered by Louisiana Supreme Court to 18 until it reversed its decision, raising to 21 three months later.[45] Other exceptions still remain.[46] | 21 (Exceptions to state law include):[47] *For an established religious purpose;
*When a person under twenty-one years of age is accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian twenty-one years of age or older; *For medical purposes when purchased as an over the counter medication, or when prescribed or administered by a licensed physician, pharmacist, dentist, nurse, hospital, or medical institution; *In a private residence, which shall include a residential dwelling and up to twenty contiguous acres, on which the dwelling is located, owned by the same person who owns the dwelling; *The sale, handling, transport, or service in dispensing of any alcoholic beverage pursuant to lawful ownership of an establishment or to lawful employment of a person under twenty-one years of age by a duly licensed manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of beverage alcohol. |
Maine | N/A | 21[8] 1969: Lowered to 20 | 1972: Lowered to 18[14] 1977: Raised to 20[9][48] | 1985: Raised to 21[9] | 21 (however minors can drink at home with parental supervision) [49] |
Maryland | N/A | 21[8] | 1974: Lowered to 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor[50][51] | 1982: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause for those born June 30, 1964, or earlier[52][9][53] | 21 (however anyone can drink when parents, spouses, teachers are present) |
Massachusetts | N/A | 21[12] | 1973: Lowered to 18 1979: Raised to 20 in 1979 (Apr 16)[54][55][56] | Raised to 21 in 1985[9] (with grandfather clause) | 21 |
Michigan | N/A | 21[8] | 1972: Lowered to 18 in 1972 (Jan 1)[57] | 1978: Raised to 19 in 1978 (Dec 3)[58][59] 1978: Raised to 21 in 1978 (Dec 21), 18 days later.[9] First state to raise age to 21 since it was lowered | 21 |
Minnesota | N/A | 21[12] | 1973: Lowered to 18 (June 1) 1976: Raised to 19 (Sept 1)[60] First state to raise age after lowering. | 1986: Raised to 21[61] | 21 |
Mississippi | ? | 1966: 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor[8] (alcohol not legalized until 1966) | 21[21] | Raised to 21 in 1986[9] | 21 |
Missouri | ? | 1945: 21[8] | 21 | 21[9] | 21 |
Montana | ? | 21[12] | 1971: Lowered to 19[62] 1973: Lowered to 18[63][64] 1979: Raised to 19 | 1987: Raised to 21[9][65] | 21 |
Nebraska | ? | 21[66] 1969: Lowered to 20 | 1972: Lowered to 19[66] | 1980: Raised to 20[16] 1985: Raised to 21[16] | 21 |
Nevada | ? | 1933: 21[8] | 21 | 21[9] | 21 |
New Hampshire | ? | 21[12] | 1973: Lowered to 18[67] 1979: Raised to 20 | 1985: Raised to 21[9][24] | 21 |
New Jersey | Before 1880: None Post-1880: 18 (penalties only against businesses)[68][69][70] | 21[citation needed] | 1973: Lowered to 18[14] | 1980: Raised to 19 1983: Raised to 21[9][71] | 21 (As of February 22, 2021, there are no longer any penalties for underage drinking besides warnings.) |
New Mexico | ? | 1934: 21[8] | 21[16] | 21[9] | 21 |
New York | 18 (16 before 1896) | Initially 21 immediately after Prohibition, then reduced to 18 four months later.[72][73] | 18 | 1982: Raised to 19 in 1982 (Dec) 1985: Raised to 21 in 1985 (Dec)[24][74][75] | 21 (Any Age with Parental Consent) |
North Carolina | ? | 18[12] | 18: for beer and wine[21] 21: for liquor | 1983: 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1986: Raised to 21 in 1986 (Sep 1)[9][29] | 21 |
North Dakota | ? | 1936: 21[8] | 21[16] | 21[76] | 21 |
Ohio | ? | 1933: 16 1935: 18: for 3.2% ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor[77] | 18: for 3.2% ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor | 1982 (Aug. 19 to Oct. 1): 19: for 3.2% ABW beer[16] 21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor[16] 1982 (From Oct. 1): 19: beer 21: wine and liquor[78] 1988: 21[16] | 21 (However, anyone can drink with parents or legal-age spouse) |
Oklahoma | ? | Men: 21 Women: 18: 3.2% ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2% ABW, wine and liquor[79] | 1976: Lowered to 18 (for 3.2% ABW beer) for both sexes in 1976 (Dec)[80] Last state to lower the purchase age. | 1983: Raised to 21[12][81] | 21 |
Oregon | ? | 1933: 21[8] | 21 | 21[9] | 21 |
Pennsylvania | ? | 1935: 21[8] | 21 | 21[9][59] | 21 |
Rhode Island | ? | 21[12] | 1970: Lowered to 18[14][82] | 1980: Raised to 19 1981: Raised to 20 1984: Raised to 21[24] | 21 |
South Carolina | 21[83] | 1935: 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor[8] | 18[21]
| 1984: 19: for beer and wine[8] 21: for liquor 1985: Raised to 20[9] 1986: Raised to 21[9] | 21 |
South Dakota | ? | 1934: 21 (all) 1939: Lowered to 18: for 3.2% beer Raised to 19: for 3.2% beer[84] | 1972: 18: for 3.2% beer; 21: for wine and liquor | 1984: 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor[9] 1988: Raised to 21[65] | 21 |
Tennessee | Pre 1881: None 1881: 21[85] | 21[8] 1964: Lowered to 18[8] | 1979: Raised to 19 | 1984: Raised to 21[9] | 21 |
Texas | Pre 1909: 21 None (with written permission of parent or guardian) Post 1909: 21[86][87] | 21[8] | 1973: Lowered to 18[88] | 1981: Raised to 19[89] 1986: Raised to 21 in 1986 (Sep 1)[9][29] | Parent consent |
Utah | ? | 1935: 21[8] | 21[16] | 21[9] | 21 |
Vermont | ? | 21[8] | 1971: Lowered to 18[90][91] | 1986: Raised to 21[24][91] | 21 |
Virginia | ? | 21[92] | 1974: Lowered to 18: for beer and wine (21: for liquor remained)[92] | 1981: Raised to 19 for off-premises consumption 1983: Raised to 19 (all beer) 1985: Raised to 21[92] | 21 |
Washington | Age of majority since 1877[93] | 21[94] | 21 | 21[9] | 21 |
West Virginia | ? | 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor[12] | 1972: Lowered to 18 (all)[95] | 1983: Raised to 19 (& 21 for non-residents)[9][48] 1986: Raised to 21[9] | 21 |
Wisconsin | 1839–1866: 18: for wine and liquor None: for beer Post-1866: 21 (all)[96] | 18: for beer 21: for wine and spirits 1957: 21: for residents of bordering states with age limit 21.[97] 1963: Raised to 21 (off-premises beer sales, remained 18 for on-premises).[97] | 1972: Lowered to 18 (all) in 1972 (Mar)[97] 1977: Border state restriction lifted.[97] | 1984: Raised to 19 1986: Raised to 21 (September 1, 1986)[97] | 21 (however anyone can drink when a parent, guardian or spouse over 21 is present)[98] |
Wyoming | N/A | 21[8] | 1973: Lowered to 19 | 1988: Raised to 21 in 1988 (Jul 1)[99][100] Last state to raise de jure purchase age to 21 | 21 |
American Samoa | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21 | 21[101] |
Northern Mariana Islands | – | – | N/A | 21 | 21[102] |
Puerto Rico | N/A | 18 | 18 | Kept at 18 despite highway funding penalty under the National Minimum Drinking Age Act. | 18[103] |
Virgin Islands | N/A | N/A | N/A | 18 | 18[104] |
Guam | N/A | 21 | 18 | 18 | Raised to 21 in 2010[6] |