Why is the legal drinking age different in each state?

The legal drinking age in the United States is determined by each state, with the majority of states setting the minimum age at 21. This is due to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which required states to establish a minimum drinking age of 21 or lose a portion of their federal highway funding. Before this act was passed, the legal drinking age varied widely from state to state, with some allowing individuals as young as 18 to purchase alcohol.

The reason for the variation in drinking ages is largely due to the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants states the power to regulate areas that are not explicitly delegated to the federal government. This means that states have the authority to determine the legal drinking age within their borders, and they may do so based on their own unique circumstances and values. For example, some states may have higher drinking ages due to concerns about underage drinking and alcohol-related accidents, while others may have lower drinking ages due to cultural or economic factors.