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Drinking Age and Alcohol Laws for All 50 States
NYRA would like to thank LAFAA President, Anthony Pankala for his hard work compiling this list.
Alabama
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase, consume, possess, or to transport any alcohol. I couldn't find the legal BAC limits.
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Alaska
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume, possess, or control alcoholic beverages except; if a parent gives it to his/her child, or if a guardian gives it to his/her ward, or a legal spouse (wife or husband over 21) gives it to his/her spouse. This may only happen off licensed premises (i.e. not in bars, liquor stores, etc.). Here is an interesting law; any one under 16 year of age is not allowed to enter a place where alcohol beverages are sold, served, or consumed unless with someone who is over 21 years of age. But any one under 21 years of age may be denied entry, or not be served, or may be requested to leave the premises where the alcohol beverages are sold, served, or consumed. To me that seems to be a form of age discrimination especially for 18, 19, and 20 year olds. Anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed to drive a motor vehicle after consuming any quantity of alcohol. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.
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Arizona
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase or possess alcohol. Although in the performance of a religious service or ceremony, possession or consumption of alcohol is allowed. I didn't find the BAC limit for someone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for someone 21 years old or older) is a BAC of 0.08 or higher.
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Arkansas
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or posses alcohol. Anyone under the age of 21 can't drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 but less than a BAC of .10. For anyone 21 years of age or more the BAC limit is .10 or higher.
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California
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or possess alcohol. It's illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a BAC of .01 or more if under the age of 21. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.
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Colorado
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or possess alcohol unless a parent or guardian gives permission for their child or ward to drink, but only on private property and under the supervision of the parent or guardian. Anyone under the age of 21 can't drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 but less than a BAC of .05. Anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .10 or higher.
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Connecticut
- The only thing I found was that a minor (any one under the age of 21) can't drink alcohol pretty much. I didn't find the BAC limit for someone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for someone 21 years old or older) is .10.
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Delaware
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or purchase alcohol. I couldn't find anything on possession of alcohol though. . I didn't find the BAC limit for someone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for someone 21 years old or older) is .10.
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District of Columbia
- Couldn't find a site that listed the District of Columbia's Code, which list all of its laws.
Florida
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or posses alcohol. But interestingly you can taste (can't consume) an alcoholic beverage if it is required of a class in a postsecondary educational institution (college) but only if you're at least 18 years of age. It's illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher if under the age of 21. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.
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Georgia
- No one under 21 year of age is allowed to possess alcohol (therefore you can't drink it either) unless at home when the parent or guardian gives it to his/her child or ward and the parent or guardian is present (supervising). It's illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher if under the age of 21. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.
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Hawaii
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Idaho
- Its seems that no one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume, or possess alcohol. Someone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 but less than a BAC of .08. The BAC for anyone over 21 years of age or older is a BAC of .04 but less than a BAC of .08.
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Illinois
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Indiana
- No one under the age of 21 years is allowed to consume, transport, or possess alcohol. But he/she is allowed to consume, transport, or posses alcohol when supervised by the parent or guardian. Something also interesting, no one under the age of 18 is allowed in tavern, bar, or other public place where alcoholic beverages are sold, bartered, exchanged, given away, provided, or furnished. But is allowed when the child is with a parent, guardian, trustee, or other person having custody of the child, and who is older that 21 years of age. This law does not apply to places like a sports arena, convention center, and etc. (the complete list is found at the given link below). Anyone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 but less than a BAC of .08. For anyone 21 years of age or older can not drive if they have a BAC of .08 but less than a BAC of .15.
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Iowa
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or posses alcohol, unless at a private home when the parent or guardian gives it to his/her child or ward and the said parent or guardian is present (supervising). Also anyone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .10 or higher.
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Kansas
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Kentucky
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Louisiana
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Maine
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Maryland
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to buy, consume, posses, or transport alcohol. But to transport alcohol for any lawful purpose (like giving it to someone 21 or older to use) with the consent of the parent or guardian is allowed.
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Massachusetts
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Michigan
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Minnesota
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Mississippi
- Found the State Code but was missing the laws that pertain to the drinking age and the legal BAC limits.
Missouri
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase alcohol (so I'm assuming you're not allowed to drink it either.) I couldn't find anything on the legal BAC limits.
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Montana
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase (so I'm assuming you're not allowed to drink it either.) I didn't find the BAC limit for anyone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for someone 21 years old or older) is more than a BAC of 0.04 but less than 0.10.
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Nebraska
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Nevada
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
New Hampshire
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
New Jersey
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
New Mexico
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
New York
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to buy or posses alcohol. But you can drink alcohol if you are a student in a curriculum licensed or registered by the state education department and is required to taste or imbibe alcoholic beverages in courses which are part of the required curriculum. Also you can consume alcohol if it is give to you by your guardian or parent. I didn't find the BAC limit for anyone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for someone 21 years old or older) is .10 (Effective until November 1, 2003.) After November 1, 2003 the new law is .08.
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North Carolina
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
North Dakota
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to manufacture, purchase, consume, or possess alcohol. Also it's illegal to enter any licensed premises where alcohol is being sold or displayed, except a restaurant when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. I couldn't find the BAC limits for this state.
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Ohio
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to possess or consume any alcohol in any public or private place, unless the underage person is accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian. Also anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to possess or consume any low-alcohol beverage in any public or private place, unless accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian. The limit of intoxication to drive a vehicle for someone under 21 years of age is a concentration of at least two-hundredths of one gram but less than ten-hundredths of one gram by weight of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath. For everyone 21 years of age or more it's concentration of ten-hundredths of one per cent or more but less than seventeen-hundredths of one per cent by weight of alcohol in the person's blood.
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Oklahoma
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Oregon
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Pennsylvania
- Can not find the legal drinking age or the BAC limits.
Rhode Island
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to buy or posses alcohol. I didn't find the BAC limit for anyone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for anyone 21 years old or older) is more than a BAC of 0.08 but less than 0.10.
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South Carolina
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to buy alcohol (so I'm assuming you're not allowed to drink it either.) But a college student who is 18 years or old can taste, but not consume or imbibe the liquor required for curriculum and is used only for instructional purposes during classes. There are many different ways to be charged with drinking under the influence (DUI) so just click on the second link and go to SECTION 56-5-2950 to see what they are.
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South Dakota
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol. But an 18 year old or older can drink alcohol if done in the immediate presence of a parent or guardian or spouse over twenty-one years of age. Also if under18 years old you can still drink alcohol as long it's in the immediate presence of a parent or guardian or spouse, who is at least twenty-one years of age, while not on the premises of an establishment licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. Also anyone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .10 or higher.
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Tennessee
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase, transport, or possess alcohol. Anyone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher. For anyone 21 years of age or older can not drive if they have a BAC of .08 but less than a BAC of .10.
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Texas
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase, posses, or consume alcohol. Possession and consumption of alcohol is legal for minors if under the supervision of a parent, guardian or spouse. Anyone under the age of 21 can not drive a motor vehicle with any traceable amounts of alcohol in the blood stream. I couldn't find the legal BAC limit for 21 year olds and older.
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Utah
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol. I didn't find the BAC limit for anyone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for anyone 21 years old or older) is a BAC of 0.08 or higher.
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Vermont
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase or consume alcohol. Anyone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher. For anyone 21 years of age or older can not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.
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Virginia
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase or possess alcohol. I didn't find the BAC limit for anyone under 21 (if there is one), but I did find that the BAC (at least for anyone 21 years old or older) is a BAC of 0.08 or more.
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Washington
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase alcohol (so I'm assuming you're not allowed to drink it either.) Anyone under the age of 21 can not drive any motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher. For people 21 years of age or older, they can not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.
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West Virginia
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase or consume alcohol. I couldn't find the legal BAC limits.
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Wisconsin
- Unable to find the State Code that lists all the laws.
Wyoming
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol. There are many different ways to be charged with drinking under the influence (DUI) so just click on the second link and go to Section 31-5-233 to see what they are.
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Laws and Information That Applies to All States
· In ever state you are allowed to consume alcohol if it's for medical purposes.
· When the BAC limit is given with two limits like "a BAC of .08 but less than a BAC of .10" that means that if you have a BAC of .10 more it's a bigger offence.
· Ward means the person who the guardian is responsible for.
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