Regardless of New York state law, it's generally assumed that no one has to be 21 to drink. Granted, a resident advisor might bust a student for drinking in his or her dorm, and the police do break up the occasional fraternity party, but for the most part, we live in a country where alcohol is readily available despite the law.
The weakness within this law should force New York and all of the other states with 21 and over limits to reconsider the wisdom of such high age requirements. These unrealistic and ineffective laws make a mockery of the legal system. One of the areas where this problem is most evident is in the use of fake IDs. An underage student can easily depend on an older sibling, a friend, or a store in Toronto to get them past not-too-discriminating nor perceptive bouncers.
The 21-and-up drinking age is a modern form of Prohibition. Unenforceable, zero-tolerance statutes turn otherwise responsible adults into lawbreakers, and promotes the development of irresponsible drinking habits in young adults. In Europe, natives can often spot American tourists by the excessive alcohol consumption and resultant foolish behaviors. Simply telling children that "drinking is bad" without adequate preparation for the day when "drinking is good - especially in excess" only encourages them to drink alcohol more heavily, more secretively, and more dangerously. For instance, by the time some kids are let loose in college, they are more likely to engage in unsafe activities like binge drinking and driving while intoxicated. The sudden freedom of college is overwhelming, and nearby campus bars and Greek parties are the last places where students learn to drink responsibly.
But as a law itself, the 21-year age requirement is unfair in both its intent and effects. Since New York passed the law in 1984, an unintended consequence has been a discrimination against responsible young adults who actually do not drink. Many bars, clubs, and concert venues have raised cover prices for 18-21 year old adults to make up for lost alcohol costs, if they are admitted at all. As a matter of fair treatment and legal integrity, 18-year-olds are full adults and ought to be given the right to drink if they so choose.
Separating the definition of an adult by age, at 18 and 21, is fundamentally wrong. It's an old argument, but the truth behind it is timeless: anyone mature enough to legally die for his or her country should be allowed to drink in that country. Anyone old enough to marry should be allowed to drink during a champagne toast at his or her own wedding. A person over 18 should not have to be regarded as a child in any manner, and especially only in one.
