Drinking Age By State

Drinking Age Exceptions

Drinking Age Exceptions
AlabamaAlabamaNo exceptions
AlaskaAlaskaFamily+Location exceptions
ArizonaArizonaNo exceptions
ArkansasArkansasNo exceptions
CaliforniaCaliforniaFamily+Location exceptions
ColoradoColoradoFamily+Location exceptions
ConnecticutConnecticutFamily exceptions
DelawareDelawareFamily+Location exceptions
FloridaFloridaNo exceptions
GeorgiaGeorgiaFamily+Location exceptions
HawaiiHawaiiFamily member can provide
IdahoIdahoFamily+Location exceptions
IllinoisIllinoisFamily exceptions
IndianaIndianaNo exceptions
IowaIowaFamily+Location exceptions
KansasKansasNo exceptions
KentuckyKentuckyNo exceptions
LouisianaLouisianaFamily+Location exceptions
MaineMaineFamily+Location exceptions
MarylandMarylandFamily+Location exceptions
MassachusettsMassachusettsFamily exceptions
MichiganMichiganNo exceptions
MinnesotaMinnesotaLocation exceptions
MississippiMississippiFamily+Location exceptions
MissouriMissouriNo exceptions
MontanaMontanaFamily exceptions
NebraskaNebraskaLocation exceptions
NevadaNevadaFamily+Location exceptions
New HampshireNew HampshireNo exceptions
New JerseyNew JerseyLocation exceptions
New MexicoNew MexicoFamily+Location exceptions
New YorkNew YorkFamily exceptions
North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNo exceptions
North DakotaNorth DakotaNo exceptions
OhioOhioFamily exceptions
OklahomaOklahomaLocation exceptions
OregonOregonFamily+Location exceptions
PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaNo exceptions
Rhode IslandRhode IslandFamily exceptions
South CarolinaSouth CarolinaLocation exceptions
South DakotaSouth DakotaNo exceptions
TennesseeTennesseeNo exceptions
TexasTexasFamily exceptions
UtahUtahNo exceptions
VermontVermontNo exceptions
VirginiaVirginiaFamily+Location exceptions
WashingtonWashingtonFamily exceptions
West VirginiaWest VirginiaNo exceptions
WisconsinWisconsinFamily exceptions
WyomingWyomingFamily+Location exceptions

Introduction

When it comes to the contentious issue of alcohol consumption, particularly among youth, the United States has a diverse legal landscape. While the federal legal drinking age is set at 21, the complexities at the state level, combined with the potential exceptions and variances, create a complex environment. In the US, the vast majority of states have accepted the federally suggested legal drinking age of 21, but many have carved out specific exceptions within their laws. These exceptions could range from private consumption of alcohol by minors under direct family supervision to consumption in specific locations or in connection with religious customs, educational contexts, or medical situations.

  • A substantial number of states have legislation that coded with 'Family+Location exceptions', signaling that minors can consume alcohol in certain environments and under the supervision of family members.
  • Some states permit underage drinking exclusively in the presence of family members.
  • A few states allow the consumption of alcohol by minors only under specific 'Location exceptions'.

By Region

Alabama

See Less
Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family member can provide

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Location exceptions

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Location exceptions

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Location exceptions

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Location exceptions

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Location exceptions

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

No exceptions

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family exceptions

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Drinking Age Exceptions

Family+Location exceptions