Bill to Law: Drinking in America

The number to know is 21, years-old that is. The idea that only those who are of the age of 21 or older can legally drink alcoholic beverages seems like it has been around since the beginning of the United States government but this is not true. The actuality is that the age limit for legal consumption of alcoholic beverages was set approximately 24 years ago. This legislation began as a bill intended to outlaw all alcoholic consumption during the time of Prohibition, during a time in which individual States could determine their own minimum drinking age (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). Later, the bill gained popularity and eventually became law.

The bill to set a minimum drinking age nationally began as a means to make any consumption of alcohol illegal and was the cause for the 18^th Amendment to be ratified (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). This did not last for long and due to the public's change of view "...the 18^th amendment was in 1933 repealed by the 21^st amendment" (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d., ¶2). During the time of Prohibition into the time of the Vietnam War many states lowered their drinking age from 21 to the age of 18 because popular belief (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). This belief was simple...If these people were old enough to fight and die for this country, they should be allowed the right to drink alcohol at the same age. As this same generation began to get older the importance of this issue no longer seemed relevant.

The founder for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Candy Lighter, began to gain support to set a nationally recognized minimum drinking age (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). The support from those that shared Candy Lighter's opinion and the release of studies showing that the use of alcohol by youths was out of control began to create a sense of urgency for a resolve. By this time President Regan also changed his opinion and now supported the efforts by Candy Lighter and the members of MADD (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). Now, the stage was set for the passing of the "National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984" (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d., ¶4). According the original bill that was created by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (Democrat from New Jersey), all States had a minimum of two years to comply or they would lose some Federal aid for highways but if they did comply they could receive incentive grants (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). Others such as Senator Gordon J. Humphrey (Republican from New Hampshire) opposed the punishing of States for noncompliance but to offer benefits for complying states (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). After deliberation and many hours of compromising the bill was voted on. On "...June 7, 1984 the House voted 297-73 in favor of the amended highway bill" (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d., ¶8). Senator Humphrey and Senator Symms were opposed this new amendment to the legislation and proposed and new version that was later denied passage after being voted on by the House (Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.). As stated by author Koroknay-Palicz (n.d.) "After Senate approval of Lautenberg's amendment it was sent back to the House where it silently passed through with no objections to the Senate version of the bill" (¶16). This made the drinking age bill into law on June 28, 1984(Koroknay-Palicz, A., n.d.).

When an individual, usually a member of Congress, puts together a bill he or she must submit a copy to the House. This is the first step of a proposed bill becoming a law. The proposed bill is then passed on to a Sub-Committee that discusses the legitimacy of the proposed bill. If the Sub-Committee approves that this proposal for further consideration then it is passed on to the Committee. Next, the proposed bill is sent to the Rules Committee so rules can be drawn to cover the debate on the floor and is sent on to the Full House. The Conference Committee is the next stop for the proposal in which Senators and Representatives debate, discuss, and come to an agreement on the proposal. Now, it has come the time for the proposal to go to the President's desk. If the President signs the bill it becomes law but if he or she vetoes the bill goes back to Congress. If Congress votes two-thirds majority in favor of the proposed bill they can over-ride the President's veto and the bill becomes law. This is how a bill becomes a law when presented to the House of Representatives and is how the minimum drinking age was settled.

Reference

Koroknay-Palicz, A. (n.d.). Youth Truth: The Official Publication of Americans for a society Free from Age Restrictions (ASFAR): Legislative Analysis for the National Minimum Drinking Age Act. (1), Iss. 5. Retrieved July 25, 2008 from, web site: http://www.asfar.org/zine/5th/cover.html