Introduction
Drinking alcohol is more dangerous for those who are younger and whose brains are still developing. Because of this public health concern, governments have set minimum ages at which people may drink. While the federal government has a legal age for purchasing alcohol, states are free to set their own laws regarding the age at which a person may privately consume alcohol.
Despite this ability by the states, many have decided to adopt a drinking age of 21 at the behest of the federal government. While the federal Constitution does not give Congress the ability to regulate private alcohol consumption, in the 1990s the White House began conditioning federal funds for highways upon states adopting a drinking age of 21.
While states have adopted minimum drinking ages, exceptions have been carved in state laws surrounding educational purposes, religious services, medical reasons, and with parental, guardian, or spousal consent.
Discover the drinking age by state by scrolling through the data in the charts.
| State | Drinking Law Exceptions | Ethanol Consumption Per Capita | Binge Drinking Frequency | Alcohol Sunday Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.83 gal | 1.9 | No Restrictions |
| California | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.63 gal | 1.6 | No Restrictions |
| Colorado | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.97 gal | 1.6 | No Restrictions |
| Delaware | Family and Location Exceptions | 4.01 gal | 1.7 | Restricted |
| Georgia | Family and Location Exceptions | 1.91 gal | 1.6 | Local Options |
| Idaho | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.1 gal | 2 | Local Options |
| Iowa | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.5 gal | 1.9 | Restricted |
| Louisiana | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.59 gal | 2 | Local Options |
| Maine | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.99 gal | 1.8 | Restricted |
| Maryland | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.15 gal | 1.6 | Local Options |
| Mississippi | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.39 gal | 2.1 | No Restrictions |
| Nevada | Family and Location Exceptions | 3.43 gal | 1.6 | Local Options |
| New Mexico | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.3 gal | 1.8 | Local Options |
| Oregon | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.71 gal | 1.7 | Restricted |
| Virginia | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.27 gal | 1.6 | Restricted in Some Locations |
| Wyoming | Family and Location Exceptions | 2.94 gal | 1.5 | Restricted |
| Connecticut | Family Exceptions | 2.5 gal | 1.6 | Local Options |
| Hawaii | Family Exceptions | 2.71 gal | 1.9 | Restricted |
| Illinois | Family Exceptions | 2.42 gal | 1.9 | Local Options |
| Massachusetts | Family Exceptions | 2.62 gal | 1.5 | Local Options |
| Montana | Family Exceptions | 3.32 gal | 1.6 | No Restrictions |
| New York | Family Exceptions | 2.22 gal | 1.6 | Restricted |
| Ohio | Family Exceptions | 2.12 gal | 1.9 | Local Options |
| Rhode Island | Family Exceptions | 2.71 gal | 1.6 | Restricted |
| Texas | Family Exceptions | 2.41 gal | 1.8 | No Restrictions |
| Washington | Family Exceptions | 2.26 gal | 1.5 | Local Options |
| Wisconsin | Family Exceptions | 3.11 gal | 1.7 | Restricted |
| Minnesota | Location Exceptions | 2.85 gal | 1.5 | Restricted |
| Nebraska | Location Exceptions | 2.17 gal | 1.7 | Local Options |
| New Jersey | Location Exceptions | 2.63 gal | Local Options | |
| Oklahoma | Location Exceptions | 1.85 gal | 1.5 | Local Options |
| South Carolina | Location Exceptions | 2.12 gal | 1.9 | No Restrictions |
| Alabama | No Exceptions | 2.08 gal | 1.7 | Restricted |
| Arizona | No Exceptions | 2.24 gal | 1.5 | No Restrictions |
| Arkansas | No Exceptions | 1.92 gal | 1.9 | Local Options |
| Florida | No Exceptions | 2.74 gal | 1.8 | Local Options |
| Indiana | No Exceptions | 2.34 gal | 1.7 | Restricted |
| Kansas | No Exceptions | 2.12 gal | 1.6 | Local Option |
| Kentucky | No Exceptions | 2.12 gal | 1.9 | Local Options |
| Michigan | No Exceptions | 2.53 gal | 1.8 | Local Options |
| Missouri | No Exceptions | 2.68 gal | 1.8 | Restricted |
| New Hampshire | No Exceptions | 4.83 gal | 1.5 | Restricted in Some Locations |
| North Carolina | No Exceptions | 2.31 gal | 1.8 | No Restrictions |
| North Dakota | No Exceptions | 3.26 gal | 1.8 | Local Options |
| Pennsylvania | No Exceptions | 2.32 gal | 1.8 | Restricted in Some Locations |
| South Dakota | No Exceptions | 2.34 gal | 1.7 | Local Options |
| Tennessee | No Exceptions | 2.3 gal | 1.7 | Restricted |
| Utah | No Exceptions | 1.36 gal | 1.7 | No Restrictions |
| Vermont | No Exceptions | 3.22 gal | 1.9 | Restricted |
| West Virginia | No Exceptions | 1.82 gal | 1.8 | Local Options |
Drinking Law Exceptions by State
Alabama
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.08 gal
Ranked in the US
#46
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#23
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Alaska
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.83 gal
Ranked in the US
#13
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#4
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Arizona
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.24 gal
Ranked in the US
#37
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#43
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Arkansas
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.92 gal
Ranked in the US
#47
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#5
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
California
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.63 gal
Ranked in the US
#19
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#32
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Colorado
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.97 gal
Ranked in the US
#10
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#33
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Connecticut
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.5 gal
Ranked in the US
#24
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#34
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Delaware
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
4.01 gal
Ranked in the US
#2
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#24
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Florida
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.74 gal
Ranked in the US
#14
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#13
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Georgia
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.91 gal
Ranked in the US
#48
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#35
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Hawaii
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.71 gal
Ranked in the US
#15
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#6
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Idaho
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.1 gal
Ranked in the US
#45
Binge Drinking Frequency
2
Ranked in the US
#2
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Illinois
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.42 gal
Ranked in the US
#26
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#7
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Indiana
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.34 gal
Ranked in the US
#29
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#25
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Iowa
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.5 gal
Ranked in the US
#25
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#8
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Kansas
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#41
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#36
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Option
Kentucky
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#42
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#9
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Louisiana
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.59 gal
Ranked in the US
#22
Binge Drinking Frequency
2
Ranked in the US
#3
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Maine
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.99 gal
Ranked in the US
#9
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#14
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Maryland
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.15 gal
Ranked in the US
#40
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#37
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Massachusetts
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.62 gal
Ranked in the US
#21
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#45
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Michigan
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.53 gal
Ranked in the US
#23
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#15
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Minnesota
Drinking Law Exceptions
Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.85 gal
Ranked in the US
#12
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#46
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Mississippi
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.39 gal
Ranked in the US
#28
Binge Drinking Frequency
2.1
Ranked in the US
#1
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Missouri
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.68 gal
Ranked in the US
#18
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#16
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Montana
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.32 gal
Ranked in the US
#5
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#38
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Nebraska
Drinking Law Exceptions
Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.17 gal
Ranked in the US
#39
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#26
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Nevada
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.43 gal
Ranked in the US
#4
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#39
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
New Hampshire
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
4.83 gal
Ranked in the US
#1
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#47
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted in Some Locations
New Jersey
Drinking Law Exceptions
Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.63 gal
Ranked in the US
#20
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
New Mexico
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.3 gal
Ranked in the US
#33
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#17
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
New York
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.22 gal
Ranked in the US
#38
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#40
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
North Carolina
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.31 gal
Ranked in the US
#32
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#18
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
North Dakota
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.26 gal
Ranked in the US
#6
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#19
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Ohio
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#43
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#10
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Oklahoma
Drinking Law Exceptions
Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.85 gal
Ranked in the US
#49
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#48
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Oregon
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.71 gal
Ranked in the US
#16
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#27
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Pennsylvania
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.32 gal
Ranked in the US
#31
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#20
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted in Some Locations
Rhode Island
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.71 gal
Ranked in the US
#17
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#41
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
South Carolina
Drinking Law Exceptions
Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#44
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#11
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
South Dakota
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.34 gal
Ranked in the US
#30
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#28
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Tennessee
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.3 gal
Ranked in the US
#34
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#29
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Texas
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.41 gal
Ranked in the US
#27
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#21
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Utah
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.36 gal
Ranked in the US
#51
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#30
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
No Restrictions
Vermont
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.22 gal
Ranked in the US
#7
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#12
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Virginia
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.27 gal
Ranked in the US
#35
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#42
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted in Some Locations
Washington
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.26 gal
Ranked in the US
#36
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#49
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
West Virginia
Drinking Law Exceptions
No Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.82 gal
Ranked in the US
#50
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#22
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Local Options
Wisconsin
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.11 gal
Ranked in the US
#8
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#31
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
Wyoming
Drinking Law Exceptions
Family and Location Exceptions
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.94 gal
Ranked in the US
#11
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#50
Alcohol Sunday Restrictions
Restricted
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