You can pretty much blame MADD for that. Originally it started out as an organization with the best intentions but over time it's turned into more or less a modern temperance movement.

The key was figuring out that if you pressure the federal government enough you can get states to fall in line. The federal government doesn't have the ability to set a blanket drinking age for every state. But it does have the ability to withhold federal highway funds from states that refuse to set their minimum drinking age at 21.

That still doesn't explain the age of 21. Couldn't the federal government just as easily had required states set the age at 18 in order to recieve highway funds.

The age was already 18 in most states, so that wouldn't have done anything.

The 21 age was chosen partly because there was already historical precedent in holding back certain rights or privileges until the age of 21, such as voting prior to the 26th amendment. Also, it helps that it's only 3 years from 18, so it can be written off as just a minor change.

As I mentioned MADD basically transitioned into becoming a neo-prohibitionist/temperance movement organization. Even the founder, who left the group the year after MADD succeeded in getting the National Minimum Drinking Age Act passed, believes that to be the case. Shifting the drinking age is one part of that, they've also campaigned for increasing the excise taxes on alcohol to reduce consumption.

Yes, but MADD and other interests have pressured the federal government to set the age to 21 via highway funding, so states are constrained from deviating.

The biggest thing for me has been that you're old enough to die for your country -- required enlistment for the armed forces selective service ("the draft") -- but not old enough to buy a beer.

Can you at least drink beer once you are in the army? I can only imagine being in the army without beer could be very, very difficult.

Having been in the Army, admittedly almost 20 years ago, I can assure you that those in charge will very carefully tell you not to drink, yet will be intentionally incredibly inefficient about enforcement, outside of boot camp, etc.

Note that one huge difference between Army and civilian life is enforcement of drinking might be a touch lax compared to civilian life, but enforcement of drunken-ness is absolutely draconian compared to civilian. You absolutely, positively do not want a blood alcohol level over 0.0000 when on duty or behind the wheel, even off post or in the barracks, etc. At least in that way my .mil experience was extremely European... you want a beer with that pizza, fine, you know its illegal but I'm not going to stop you. On the other hand god help you if you're caught being drunk, you may as well shoot yourself, its very draconian. You're literally better off smoking weed than being drunk, seriously, and yes I know the army is/was nuts about drug use. You'll merely get kicked out for a failed pee test... for being drunk on duty or behind the wheel you'll serve time. My European analogy is I'm told you really don't want to get busted for DWI in Germany... in Wisconsin its just a minor misdemeanor right up there with being 5 mph over speeding (seriously, WI is legendary for being lax)

Like many things in .mil, "good soldiers" get away with quite a bit more than the proverbial platoon F-up can get away with.

Thanks for the story, I had no idea that it is such a big issue in the military.

Also drive a car (16), sign legal contracts, get yourself in tens of thousands of dollars in debt...

Interesting note:

"Contrary to popular belief, since the act (that set the drinking age at 21) went into law, only a few states prohibit minors and young adults from consuming alcohol in private settings. As of January 1, 2010, 15 states and the District of Columbia ban underage consumption outright, 17 states do not ban underage consumption, and the remaining 18 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age#Americas

Don't forget, you can enlist in a military branch at 18 - so its conceivable you could fight and die for your country before being able to legally enjoy a cold pint at the local pub.

To be fair, that’s the case in the UK as well. General age for drinking is 18 (with a few exceptions[1]), you can enlist at 16.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age

it is funny that you can buy the same beer when you are 16 in Denmark.

I had no idea there were age limits on gun ownership in America. Looks like you're right though (except in Vermont the age limit is 16).

Usually you can own a rifle or shotgun at 18 but you can't own a handgun until you're 21. Might vary based on the state too.

Yeah , the country of freedom when you're not even free to buy alcohol at 18 like in most western countries ... what a joke... and they think they are free...