Drinking Age MN
Minimum Drinking Age Change
Why was the minimum drinking age in Minnesota changed from eighteen years old to twenty-one years old? In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that would change the minimum drinking age. With many alcohol-related injuries and deaths in teens, possible loss of federal funds, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) protests, the Minnesota Minimum Drinking Age Act changed the minimum drinking age from eighteen to twenty-one. As a result, people have become more educated, alcohol related injuries and deaths have declined, and the state has saved over twenty-two million dollars. Before 1984, a person in Minnesota who was eighteen years old could drink alcohol legally. That all changed in 1986, when the Minimum Drinking Age Act changed its minimum drinking age to twenty-one years old(United Press International). Eventually every state made the change so they would not lose their federal funds that were needed for their highways. Choose Responsibility, a drunk driving organization, states that the Minimum Drinking Age Act was originally intended to raise awareness of underage drinking but shifted over to drinking alcohol in other of forms that could also cause harm (chooseresponsibility.org). According to the Minnesota Legislature, the law states that it is a felony for a person over twenty-one to sell alcohol to a minor if the seller is not intending to get the minor intoxicated. The Legislature also states that it is a gross misdemeanor for a twenty-one year old to sell alcohol to a minor if the seller is intending to get the minor intoxicated. Lastly, they state that it is illegal for a minor (someone who is under the age of twenty-one) to drink, buy, or sell alcohol. According to Kevin Burbach of Minnesota Daily, an alternate bill has been proposed by Minnesota Representative Kahn. Her bill states that an eighteen year old would be allowed to drink in bars or restaurants but would not be allowed to buy alcohol in a liquor
Why was the minimum drinking age in Minnesota changed from eighteen years old to twenty-one years old? In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that would change the minimum drinking age. With many alcohol-related injuries and deaths in teens, possible loss of federal funds, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) protests, the Minnesota Minimum Drinking Age Act changed the minimum drinking age from eighteen to twenty-one. As a result, people have become more educated, alcohol related injuries and deaths have declined, and the state has saved over twenty-two million dollars. Before 1984, a person in Minnesota who was eighteen years old could drink alcohol legally. That all changed in 1986, when the Minimum Drinking Age Act changed its minimum drinking age to twenty-one years old(United Press International). Eventually every state made the change so they would not lose their federal funds that were needed for their highways. Choose Responsibility, a drunk driving organization, states that the Minimum Drinking Age Act was originally intended to raise awareness of underage drinking but shifted over to drinking alcohol in other of forms that could also cause harm (chooseresponsibility.org). According to the Minnesota Legislature, the law states that it is a felony for a person over twenty-one to sell alcohol to a minor if the seller is not intending to get the minor intoxicated. The Legislature also states that it is a gross misdemeanor for a twenty-one year old to sell alcohol to a minor if the seller is intending to get the minor intoxicated. Lastly, they state that it is illegal for a minor (someone who is under the age of twenty-one) to drink, buy, or sell alcohol. According to Kevin Burbach of Minnesota Daily, an alternate bill has been proposed by Minnesota Representative Kahn. Her bill states that an eighteen year old would be allowed to drink in bars or restaurants but would not be allowed to buy alcohol in a liquor