21 Age rule in USA?

[Anonymous]

I am a 19 years old Turkish citizen girl, I went to America with my family for a holiday. But the age of alcohol consumption in the USA is 21 and even though I am not a US citizen, I cannot buy alcohol from the market. Is this legal?

[ProbablyClueless]

You are correct; you will not be able to buy alcohol in the United States.

The 21 years old rule actually comes from a condition the federal congress placed on receiving funding for road maintenance. The idea was to reduce drunk driving. States could access the federal grant money, but in order to get at that money, they had to raise the drinking age.

Technically speaking, the drinking age in the US is 18. But for all practical purposes, the age is 21 because every state in the union has raised the age to 21.

[abc3643]

Yes, it's legal. The laws are not just for citizens but for everyone.

By your rationale, because you are not a US citizen, the laws don't apply to you. So, for instance, you could commit murder and not be charged because you are not a citizen.

No, it doesn't work that way ANYWHERE. Laws apply to people not just citizens.

[StudyingAuthor]

Yes, I believe so. In many states, they ID, the best way to get those type of products is to have someone buy them for you.

[coxoabean]

Ya, I saw the legal age of drinking in turkey is 18.. It's 21 here

[DarkLegacy]

It is 18 across Europe. Who knows what goes through the minds of the land of the 'free'. But different states have different laws also. Congratulations on another Turkish spam question by the way.

[4ngelic]

it's illegal regardless if you're a foreigner or an American

[OtterMan68]

yep, in the US an 18 year old can be given a weapon and told to kill people and risk his life in a war zone, but can't buy alcohol.

Makes sense, no?

[jahaims]

You can't buy alcohol. Some states let you consume alcohol on private property but the person who purchases it is then liable. People your age get fake id's to drink in public. Which is also illegal.

[KostasKouvalis]

If you're a tourist in America you need to follow the laws of America, regardless of what the laws are in your own country.

[Fromdusktilldawn]

yea it sucks right, as a young tourist its annoying over there, also renting a car under 25 can be a hussle

[Staximus]

The laws in any country apply to the people who are presently there, no matter where they are from.

[Iron_Man]

You can’t buy any alcohol unless you’re 21 years old it doesn’t matter what country you come from you are on American soil now

[Anonymous]

if we went to Turkey we would have to follow those laws

Midnight Express?

[Maxnanet]

Most america is 21 . In Canada its 18

[SotiCoto]

Curious. When I was in Canada a few decades back I'm pretty sure it was 19, but that might have just been a Nova Scotia thing.

[In_Trance]

That's how it works