<Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Pre-Prohibition ( prior to 1919 ) </Th> <Th> Post-Prohibition ( after 1933 ) </Th> <Th> 1970s / 26th Amendment ( adopted in 1971 ) </Th> <Th> 1980s / Drinking Age Act of 1984 </Th> <Th> 21st century </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Alabama </Th> <Td> Pre 1881 : None 1881 : 21 ( none with consent of parent ) </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1975 : Lowered to 19 </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 ( no one underage is allowed consumption Section 28 - 1 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Alaska </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1970 : Lowered to 19 </Td> <Td> 1984 : Raised to 21 with grandfather clause ( if born before January 1 , 1965 ) </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Arizona </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 19 </Td> <Td> 1985 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Arkansas </Th> <Td> Pre 1925 : None 1925 : 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> California </Th> <Td> Pre 1891 : Regulated by municipality / county ( common age was 16 ) 1891 : 18 ( statewide ) </Td> <Td> 1933 : 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 ( except small amounts for religious ceremonies ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Colorado </Th> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 1945 : 18 : for beer 21 : for wine and liquor </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Raised to 21 in 1987 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Connecticut </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 18 </Td> <Td> 1982 : Raised to 19 1983 : Raised to 20 1985 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Delaware </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 20 </Td> <Td> 1984 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> District of Columbia </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 18 : for beer and wine 21 : for liquor </Td> <Td> 18 : for beer and wine 21 : for liquor </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 with grandfather clause . </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Florida </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 1980 : 19 </Td> <Td> 1985 : Raised to 21 with grandfather clause </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Georgia </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 18 </Td> <Td> 1984 : Raised to 19 1985 : Raised to 20 1986 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Hawaii </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 18 </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Idaho </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 20 : for beer 21 : for wine and liquor </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 19 ( all ) </Td> <Td> 1987 : Raised to 21 in 1987 ( Apr 11 ) with grandfather clause </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Illinois </Th> <Td> 1872 : Age of majority ( none with written consent of parent ) </Td> <Td> pre 1961 : Age of majority 1961 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 1973 : Lowered to 19 : for beer and wine 21 : for liquor </Td> <Td> 1980 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Indiana </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> Post-1934 : 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Iowa </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 19 in 1972 ( Jul 1 ) 1973 : Lowered to 18 in 1973 ( Jul 1 ) 1978 : Raised to 19 in 1978 ( Jul 1 ) </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 in 1986 ( Jul 1
<Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Pre-Prohibition ( prior to 1919 ) </Th> <Th> Post-Prohibition ( after 1933 ) </Th> <Th> 1970s / 26th Amendment ( adopted in 1971 ) </Th> <Th> 1980s / Drinking Age Act of 1984 </Th> <Th> 21st century </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Alabama </Th> <Td> Pre 1881 : None 1881 : 21 ( none with consent of parent ) </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1975 : Lowered to 19 </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 ( no one underage is allowed consumption Section 28 - 1 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Alaska </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1970 : Lowered to 19 </Td> <Td> 1984 : Raised to 21 with grandfather clause ( if born before January 1 , 1965 ) </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Arizona </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 19 </Td> <Td> 1985 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Arkansas </Th> <Td> Pre 1925 : None 1925 : 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> California </Th> <Td> Pre 1891 : Regulated by municipality / county ( common age was 16 ) 1891 : 18 ( statewide ) </Td> <Td> 1933 : 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 ( except small amounts for religious ceremonies ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Colorado </Th> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 1945 : 18 : for beer 21 : for wine and liquor </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Raised to 21 in 1987 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Connecticut </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 18 </Td> <Td> 1982 : Raised to 19 1983 : Raised to 20 1985 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Delaware </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 20 </Td> <Td> 1984 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> District of Columbia </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 18 : for beer and wine 21 : for liquor </Td> <Td> 18 : for beer and wine 21 : for liquor </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 with grandfather clause . </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Florida </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 1980 : 19 </Td> <Td> 1985 : Raised to 21 with grandfather clause </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Georgia </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 18 </Td> <Td> 1984 : Raised to 19 1985 : Raised to 20 1986 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Hawaii </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 18 </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Idaho </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 20 : for beer 21 : for wine and liquor </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 19 ( all ) </Td> <Td> 1987 : Raised to 21 in 1987 ( Apr 11 ) with grandfather clause </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Illinois </Th> <Td> 1872 : Age of majority ( none with written consent of parent ) </Td> <Td> pre 1961 : Age of majority 1961 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 1973 : Lowered to 19 : for beer and wine 21 : for liquor </Td> <Td> 1980 : Raised to 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Indiana </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> Post-1934 : 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Iowa </Th> <Td> ? </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1972 : Lowered to 19 in 1972 ( Jul 1 ) 1973 : Lowered to 18 in 1973 ( Jul 1 ) 1978 : Raised to 19 in 1978 ( Jul 1 ) </Td> <Td> 1986 : Raised to 21 in 1986 ( Jul 1
when was the drinking age 18 in illinois
when was the drinking age 18 in illinois
pre 1961
pre 1961