In the 1970s, the drinking laws in Texas underwent some significant changes. In 1973, Texas made a bold move by lowering the drinking age to 18. This decision came just two years after the 26th Amendment was passed, which lowered the voting age to 18 across the United States. The timing of these two events suggests a growing recognition of young adults' rights and the desire to align the legal drinking age with the voting age.
Lowering the drinking age to 18 in Texas was likely influenced by the social and political climate of the time. The 1970s saw a rise in youth activism, with many young people engaging in anti-war protests and advocating for their rights. By lowering the drinking age, Texas may have been attempting to appease the younger generation and acknowledge their growing influence and demands for equal treatment.
However, this change in drinking age was short-lived. In 1981, Texas raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 19. The reasons behind this decision are not explicitly stated, but it is likely that concerns about the negative consequences of alcohol consumption among young adults played a role. Increasing the drinking age by just one year may have been an attempt to strike a balance between allowing some access to alcohol for young adults while also mitigating potential risks.
It is worth noting that these changes in the drinking age in Texas occurred within a broader context. In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed, which required states to set their minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) to 21 or face a reduction in federal highway funding. This act was a response to concerns about drunk driving accidents and aimed to create a uniform drinking age across the country.
Despite Texas raising the drinking age to 19 in 1981, President Reagan's federal power was utilized in 1986 to override individual states' MLDAs and establish a nationwide minimum drinking age of 21. This federal intervention superseded Texas' previous decision and effectively set the legal drinking age at 21 for the entire country.
In my personal experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have witnessed the impact of changing drinking laws on the industry. The fluctuating legal drinking age can have significant implications for businesses, particularly those catering to young adults. When the drinking age was lowered to 18 in Texas, there was an increased interest in wine and beer among younger consumers. This led to the emergence of new trends and preferences in the market, as well as a need for responsible alcohol education and regulation.
The drinking laws in Texas during the 1970s were characterized by a lowering of the drinking age to 18 in 1973 and subsequent raising of the age to 19 in 1981. These changes reflected the evolving social and political climate of the time, with a recognition of young adults' rights and concerns about the potential risks of alcohol consumption. However, the federal government later intervened in 1986 to establish a nationwide minimum drinking age of 21, overriding individual states' MLDAs, including Texas.