We all fondly remember the day when we drank our first legal sip of alcohol. The United States of America celebrates Legal Drinking Age Day on July 21 every year. People not only get nostalgic about their first drinks and raise a toast to it, but it’s also a day to create awareness about responsible drinking among young people. On this day, conversations are also had on how to tackle the rising cases of alcoholism and DUI. The easiest way to celebrate Legal Drinking Age Day is by relaxing with your favorite drink after a long day, if you’re over the legal drinking age, of course.
History
Americans have always marveled at how you can legally marry, have children, go to war, purchase a gun, and drive a car before you are allowed to purchase alcohol. While some of these have higher risk factors than drinking alcohol, many Americans are of the opinion that the legal drinking age in the country is ridiculously high. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed by the United States Congress on July 17, 1984. The act stated that although younger people could drink alcohol under supervision, they would have to be at least 21 years of age to be able to purchase it. However, the seven American states of Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Vermont, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have imposed an outright ban on the consumption of alcohol on those who are younger than 21.
Many European countries, including the United Kingdom, have a more liberal drinking age. Some countries even allow children to drink, as long as they do it in the privacy of their homes and under parental supervision. Legal drinking ages have been a point of debate in many cultures and countries.
Some feel that it inculcates the habit of drinking responsibly, and that prohibition, on the other hand, encourages children to drink in secret or find unlawful methods to purchase alcohol.
July 21 is also the birthday of the noted author and cocktail drinker, Ernest Hemmingway, who was born on this day in 1899. Legal Drinking Age Day is also the appropriate day to celebrate the drinking prowess of the author.
Credit: National Today
