Relationship between alcohol and the law – Why is alcohol legal in most states?

 

 

Alcohol addiction is among the most problematic in terms of both treatment and management, even with the high age limit. No one starts out wanting to suffer an addiction, but it eventually happens, and families as well as individuals are left to deal with the mess that it causes.

The United States has among the highest age limits of consuming alcohol, as you need to be above the age of 21 to purchase it, unlike in most countries that have age limits of between 18-20 years. However, this does not stop the problem from happening, as statistics show that every one in eight Americans suffers from alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal. The figure is not reducing either; in fact, the prevalence of the problem has increased by 49 percent between 2000 and 2010.

 

 Why is alcoholism a big problem?

 

Alcoholism is becoming a highly serious but overlooked issue, and has led to many fatalities arising from many causes. In addition, recent estimates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that about 88,000 fatalities occur due to causes related to alcoholism, making it higher than deaths from opiate abuse.

Alcohol laws in the US

Among different states within the US, there are differences in the specific laws regarding drinking, though the basis is the same.

The basis is the legal age when you can purchase alcohol, which is 21 years old. However, individual states can have specific exceptions that relate to activities such as religious cases, lawful employment, or consent from a spouse, parent or guardian.

In the case of exceptions from family members, it only applies to specified locations including the home of the parent or guardian, as well as private locations. Social hosts are also held responsible by law enforcement for any underage drinking events that occur on their property, regardless of whether they provide the alcohol or not.

The history of the legal drinking age

In 1984, the US Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which compelled all states of the US to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. However, this law does not apply to certain states outside the US mainland that are overseas territories, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico that have legal ages of 18.

All states that would refuse to raise the minimum age would lose 8% of federal highway funding as a punishment, although some states allow underage individuals to drink only under certain circumstances.

The best and worst states to drink alcohol

 

The US has a fascinating relationship with alcohol, which is both strange and close at the same time. Even with all the state and federal laws in place, some states have an easier time enforcing harsher laws on drinking and sticking to original statutes, while others prefer to play it cool and give their citizens more freedom. Certain states have earned a reputation of being the easiest states to get a drink, and they include:

Nevada

With a deserved reputation of knowledgeable attitudes to all the sin industries, many Americans know Nevada as a free place where they can consume as much as they want. They and Missouri have laws in place that actually ban local laws making public intoxication illegal.

You can also buy alcohol any time you wish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – as long as the business is willing to keep the hours, and they are plenty.

Missouri

This Midwest state has no restrictions when it comes to open containers. In fact, the only places it is illegal to be publicly drunk are in churches, schools and courthouses.

Different localities may pass laws that inhibit public drunkenness, but towns and cities within the state are not allowed to arrest individuals for the offence.

Wisconsin

Many people know this state as the home of the brewing industry in the US, as well as its love for beer itself – that reputation helps the liquor laws of the state to be lax.

The laws of the state allow the sale of alcohol except for the hours between 2 am and 6 am. It also allows minors under the age of 21 to drink, provided that their parents, guardians or spouses of legal age accompany them.

 

Other states have a reputation of being the worst in allowing their locals to drink, with the most famous three being:

 

Utah

 

Many know Utah as a religious state, and the skepticism of alcohol according to religious laws does not help either. Many of the laws regarding alcohol restrictions are from this thinking.

For you to sell alcohol, they require it to be below 3.2% of the total weight of the drink, and cocktails only have 1.5 oz. of primary liquor. Another interesting aspect – you cannot buy alcohol in restaurants without buying food first, and the state also prohibits the sale of kegs.

Pennsylvania

You may think you have a chance of stocking up your home basement with alcohol – that is not possible in the Keystone state. With all alcohol stores being properties of the state that means you cannot get beer anywhere.

The state only allows selling of cases instead of six-pack bottles, and for anything less you will need to go to restaurants – all these venues are subject to liquor control licenses issued by the State Board.

Massachusetts

Even though this state is famous in the country due to the presence of prestigious universities and schools, the laws of the state largely prevent those students from alcoholic drinks.

Even though the student may be from another state where they are legal and have a drivers’ license, that alone is not acceptable proof of age. That means that bars can turn you away should you decide to go have a drink. State laws also prohibit bars from hosting drinking games as well, and there is a ban on happy hours.

 

Final thoughts

Alcohol laws in the US vary among different states, and there is no set standard on the specifics of certain regulations. At the end of the day, alcohol regulation and alcohol detox is still a problem in the country.

 

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