State Pre-Prohibition (prior to 1919) Post-Prohibition (after 1933) 1970s / 26th Amendment (adopted in 1971) 1980s / Drinking Age Act of 1984 21st century Alabama Pre 1881: None 1881: 21 (none with consent of parent) 21 1970: Lowered to 19 1986: Raised to 21 21 (no one underage is allowed consumption Section 28 - 1) Alaska? 21 1970: Lowered to 19 1984: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause (if born before January 1, 1965) 21 Arizona? 21 1972: Lowered to 19 1985: Raised to 21 21 Arkansas Pre 1925: None 1925: 21 21 21 21 21 California Pre 1891: Regulated by municipality / county (common age was 16) 1891: 18 (statewide) 1933: 21 21 21 21 (except small amounts for religious ceremonies) Colorado None 1945: 18: for beer 21: for wine and liquor 18 Raised to 21 in 1987 21 Connecticut? 21 1972: Lowered to 18 1982: Raised to 19 1983: Raised to 20 1985: Raised to 21 21 (exemptions: (1) a person over age eighteen who is an employee or permit holder under section 30 - 90a and who possesses alcoholic liquor in the course of such person 's employment or business, (2) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor on the order of a practicing physician, or (3) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor while accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse of the minor, who has attained the age of twenty - one. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to burden a person 's exercise of religion under section 3 of article first of the Constitution of the state in violation of subsection (a) of section 52 - 571b. Delaware? 21 1972: Lowered to 20 1984: Raised to 21 21 District of Columbia? 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1986: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause. 21 Florida? 18 1972: 19 1985: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause 21 Georgia? 21 1972: Lowered to 18 1984: Raised to 19 1985: Raised to 20 1986: Raised to 21 21 Hawaii? 21 1972: Lowered to 18 1986: Raised to 21 21 Idaho? 20: for beer 21: for wine and liquor 1972: Lowered to 19 (all) 1987: Raised to 21 in 1987 (Apr 11) with grandfather clause 21 Illinois 1872: Age of majority (none with written consent of parent) pre 1961: Age of majority 1961: Raised to 21 1973: Lowered to 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1980: Raised to 21 21 Indiana? Post-1934: 21 21 21 21 Iowa? 21 1972: Lowered to 19 in 1972 (Jul 1) 1973: Lowered to 18 in 1973 (Jul 1) 1978: Raised to 19 in 1978 (Jul 1) 1986: Raised to 21 in 1986 (Jul 1) with grandfather clause. 21 Kansas? 1949: 18: for beer and wine with less than 4 % ABV 21: for liquor 18: for beer and wine with less than 4 % ABV 21: for beer and wine with 4 % ABV or more 21: for liquor 1985: Raised to 21 21 (However, anyone under 21 may consume cereal malt beverages with parental supervision on their own property) Kentucky? 1938: 21 21 21 21 Louisiana? As of 1948: 18 18 1987: Raised to 21 de jure in 1987, but de facto age was still 18 until 1995 due to a sale loophole. 1995: De facto age raised to 21 in 1995 when loophole was closed. 1996: In 1996, briefly lowered by Louisiana Supreme Court to 18 until it reversed its decision, raising to 21 three months later. Other exceptions still remain. 21 Maine? 21 1969: Lowered to 20 1972: Lowered to 18 1977: Raised to 20 1985: Raised to 21 21 Maryland? 21 1974: Lowered to 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1982: Raised to 21 with grandfather clause 21 (however anyone can drink when parents, spouses, teachers are present) Massachusetts? 21 1973: Lowered to 18 1979: Raised to 20 in 1979 (Apr 16) Raised to 21 in 1985 21 Michigan? 21 1972: Lowered to 18 in 1972 (Jan 1) 1978: Raised to 19 in 1978 (Dec 3) 1978: Raised to 21 in 1978 (Dec 21), 18 days later. First state to raise age to 21 since it was lowered 21 Minnesota? 21 1973: Lowered to 18 1976: Raised to 19 First state to raise age after lowering. 1986: Raised to 21 21 Mississippi? 1966: 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor (alcohol not legalized until 1966) 18 Raised to 21 in 1986 21 Missouri? 1945: 21 21 21 21 Montana? 21 1971: Lowered to 19 1973: Lowered to 18 1979: Raised to 19 1987: Raised to 21 21 Nebraska? 21 1969: Lowered to 20 1972: Lowered to 19 1980: Raised to 20 1985: Raised to 21 21 Nevada? 1933: 21 21 21 21 New Hampshire? 21 1973: Lowered to 18 1979: Raised to 20 1985: Raised to 21 21 New Jersey Before 1880: None Post-1880: 18 (penalties only against businesses) 21 1973: Lowered to 18 1980: Raised to 19 1983: Raised to 21 21 New Mexico? 1934: 21 21 21 21 New York 21 18 18 1982: Raised to 19 in 1982 (Dec) 1985: Raised to 21 in 1985 (Dec) 21 North Carolina? 18 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1983: 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1986: Raised to 21 in 1986 (Sep 1) 21 North Dakota? 1936: 21 21 21 21 Ohio? 1935: 18: for 3.2 % ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2 % ABW, wine and liquor 18: for 3.2 % ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2 % ABW, wine and liquor 1982: 19: for 3.2 % ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2 % ABW, wine and liquor 1982: 19: beer 21: wine and liquor 1988: 21 21 (However, anyone can drink with parents or legal - age spouse) Oklahoma? Men: 21 Women: 18: 3.2 % ABW beer 21: for beer stronger than 3.2 % ABW, wine and liquor 1976: Lowered to 18 (for 3.2 % ABW beer) for both sexes in 1976 (Dec) Last state to lower the drinking age. 1983: Raised to 21 21 Oregon? 1933: 21 21 21 21 Pennsylvania? 1935: 21 21 21 21 Rhode Island? 21 1970: Lowered to 18 1980: Raised to 19 1981: Raised to 20 1984: Raised to 21 21 South Carolina 21 1935: 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1984: 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1986: Raised to 21 21 South Dakota? 1934: 21 (all) 1939: Lowered to 18: for 3.2 % beer Raised to 19: for 3.2 % beer 1972: 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1984: 19: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1988: Raised to 21 21 Tennessee Pre 1881: None 1881: 21 21 1964: Lowered to 18 1979: Raised to 19 1984: Raised to 21 21 Texas Pre 1909: 21 None (with written permission of parent or guardian) Post 1909: 21 21 1973: Lowered to 18 1981: Raised to 19 1986: Raised to 21 in 1986 (Sep 1) 21 Utah? 1935: 21 21 21 21 Vermont? 21 1971: Lowered to 18 1986: Raised to 21 21 Virginia? 21 1974: Lowered to 18: for beer and wine (21: for liquor remained) 1981: Raised to 19 for off - premises consumption 1983: Raised to 19 (all beer) 1985: Raised to 21 21 Washington "Age of majority '' since 1877 21 21 21 21 West Virginia? 18: for beer and wine 21: for liquor 1972: Lowered to 18 (all) 1983: Raised to 19 (& 21 for non-residents) 1986: Raised to 21 21 Wisconsin 1839 -- 1866: 18: for wine and liquor None: for beer Post-1866: 21 (all) 18: for beer 21: for wine and spirits 1957: 21: for residents of bordering states with age limit 21. 1963: Raised to 21 (off - premises beer sales, remained 18 for on - premises). 1972: Lowered to 18 (all) in 1972 (Mar) 1977: Border state restriction lifted. 1984: Raised to 19 1986: Raised to 21 (September 1, 1986) 21 (however anyone can drink when parents, spouses, teachers are present) Wyoming? 21 1973: Lowered to 19 1988: Raised to 21 in 1988 (Jul 1) Last state to raise de jure drinking age to 21 21 American Samoa??? 21? 21 Northern Mariana Islands -- --? 21? 21 Puerto Rico? 18 18 Kept at 18 despite 10 % highway funding penalty under Drinking Age Act. 18 Virgin Islands??? 18 18 Guam? 21? 18 18 Raised to 21 in 2010
how old do u have to be to buy beer in california
21 (except small amounts for religious ceremonies)