Seven states and the District of Columbia have laws that prohibit, the consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21 with no exceptions. These prohibition states are:

1. Alabama
2. Idaho
3. Indiana
4. Kansas
5. North Carolina
6. Pennsylvania
7. West Virginia

Twenty-one states have no laws prohibiting those under 21 from drinking alcohol. 1 Contrary to popular belief, the National Underage Drinking Act of 1984 does not call for states to enact laws against underage drinking, but only against the purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages. The states with no age prohibition are:

1. California
2. Connecticut
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Hawaii
6. Iowa
7. Kentucky
8. Maryland
9. Massachusetts
10. Mississippi
11. Missouri
12. Nevada
13. New Hampshire
14. New Mexico
15. New York
16. Oklahoma
17. Rhode Island
18. South Carolina
19. Virginia
20. Wyoming

These states may charge persons who have consumed alcohol with alcohol possession or other violations in order to, in essence, enforce a non-existing law.

All other states have laws prohibiting underage consumption but provide exceptions. Common exceptions to the age prohibition include drinking in the presence of, or with the consent of, one’s parent or guardian; drinking with one’s spouse; drinking in one’s parent’s or guardian’s home; drinking in one’s own home; drinking in any other private location; or drinking for religious, educational or medical purposes.

The 22 states with partial age prohibition are

1. Alaska
2. Arkansas
3. Arizona
4. Colorado
5. Delaware
6. llinois
7. Louisiana
8. Maine
9. Michigan
10. Minnesota
11. Montana
12. Nebraska
13. New Jersey
14. North Dakota
15. Ohio
16. Oregon
17. South Dakota
18. Tennessee
19. Texas
20. Utah
21. Vermont
22. Washington
23. Wisconsin

I had the opportunity to attend a forum today at Hopkins Highschool. It was a panel discussion in which victims of mostly alcohol related traffic injuries spoke about how their lives were impacted by drunk drivers. Very sad, and very sobering (today, on St. Patrick's Day.)

Drinking is one issue. Drinking and driving is a completely different issue. My heart was broken today for the people who were directly impacted by someone drinking and driving. Lives changed for ever, never to be made whole again.

By the way, the drivers who committed these atrocities spanned all age groups. I am not convinced that the drinking age between 18-21 is that big of an issue, but would like to see some impact study results on what it meant for accidents when the age was changed.

Minnesota law allows minors to drink, with an unspecified age limit, at home. Is this right? Or should the government be allowed to govern what happens at home also? Would this in any way affect the numbers of drunk drivers who kill people?

Before I went to this class this morning, I would have told you less restrictions are better. After hearing directly from family members of people KILLED by drunk drivers, I now might lean more towards doing what ever was possible to eliminate the likelyhood of anyone ever going through what these poor people went (and continue to go) through.