Table of Contents
Can you legally drink at 18 in Virginia?
In regard to drinking age, it is illegal in Virginia for anyone under 21 years of age to possess, purchase, or consume any alcoholic beverage such as liquor, wine, and beer (Code of Virginia § 4.1-305), but there are exceptions.
What is the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984?
21 years
Despite its name, this act did not outlaw the consumption of alcoholic beverages by those under 21 years of age, just their purchase….National Minimum Drinking Age Act.
| Enacted by | the 98th United States Congress |
| Effective | July 17, 1984 37 years ago |
| Citations | |
|---|---|
| Public law | 98-363 |
| Statutes at Large | 98 Stat. 435 aka 98 Stat. 437 |
What states is the drinking age 18?
As you can see, it quickly gets confusing when it comes to the minimum legal age and liquor. There are only five states with no exceptions to the federal law: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and West Virginia.
Why did they raise the drinking age to 21?
Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving began agitating for a uniform national drinking age of 21 to help eliminate these blood borders and keep alcohol out of the hands of supposedly less-mature 18-year-olds. As a result, President Reagan signed the aforementioned National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.
What was the last state to raise the drinking age to 21?
Wyoming
Wyoming was the last of the 50 states to raise its drinking age, and, as a result, the minimum drinking age nationwide is now 21. Nowhere is the debate more heated than in Wyoming, the least populated state in the country and a place where residents describe themselves as fiercely independent.
Do you have to be 21 to serve alcohol in Virginia?
Although bartenders are generally required to be at least 21 years old in Virginia, a person who is at least 18 years of age may sell or serve beer for on-premises consumption at a counter in an establishment that sells beer only.
Can you go into an ABC store under 21 in Virginia?
There is no Virginia ABC law prohibiting a person less than 21 years of age from sitting at a counter/bar in an ABC-licensed restaurant. However, a licensee may establish its own in-house policy prohibiting it.
How old do you have to be to drink beer in Virginia?
The legal public drinking age in Virginia was 21 for many years. In 1974, the age for drinking beer and wine was lowered to 18. By 1985, the age increased again to 21 years. In July 2015, the law will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
When was the minimum drinking age raised to 21?
The enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (56 KB) prompted states to raise their legal age for purchase or public possession of alcohol to 21 or risk losing millions in federal highway funds. By 1988, all 50 states had raised their MLDA to 21.
What was the legal drinking age in the United States before 1984?
The MLDA in the United States is 21 years. However, prior to the enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, the legal age when alcohol could be purchased varied from state to state. 1 States that increased the legal drinking age to 21 saw a 16% median decline in motor vehicle crashes. 6
What was the legal drinking age in 1969?
Minimum legal drinking age as of 1969 (two years before the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971): Minimum age is 21. Minimum age is 20. Minimum age is 19 and 21. Minimum age is 19. Minimum age is 18 and 21. Minimum age is 18.