Underage drinking in the United States



Underage drinking in United States of America is a phenomenon that occurs among children and youth across the country.

Although the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol is 21 in all states (see National Minimum Drinking Age Act), the legal details vary greatly. While a few states completely ban alcohol usage for people under 21, the majority have exceptions that permit consumption.

When drinking occurs in private establishments, the alcohol is usually obtained by a person who is over 21 though a few liquor and convenience stores illegally sell to underage people. Strict fines make it more appealing to store owners to check a person's age.

Enforcement
Police enforcement of underage drinking varies widely from officer to officer as well as the laws in the states or localities. While all states prohibit general possession, transportation, or purchasing of alcohol for people under 21, many do not have laws regarding general consumption of beverages by minors. Police in some of these areas can write citations for having a blood alcohol level of greater than 0.01% while operating any vehicle, which is significantly less than the normal DUI level of 0.08%; this level can be achieved by consuming a recommended dose of cough syrup. Citations for underage possession or transportation often occur while investigating other potential violations made while the minor is driving, drinking in public, or at a large party.

In the 1990s, many localities began participating in the cops in shops program, in which undercover police officers posed as liquor store employees and wrote citations for attempting to purchase alcohol underage or having a person of legal age purchase alcohol for a minor.

The future of underage drinking
Although nearly 2/3 of the population over 21 reports supporting the current 21-year drinking age, statistics show that almost all underage people drink at some time; very few completely abstain from drinking until they turn 21. Supporters of the high drinking age say that even if the drinking age were lowered to 18, as it is in Europe and a large percentage of the rest of the world, it is possible that underage drinking would occur at similar levels, only with the demographics lowered. While some Americans are in favor of a lower drinking age, the likelihood of it being lowered appears to be low. Any state that lowered the drinking age would lose 10% of its federal highway funding. This could range from a $6-150 million loss for any single state.