<P> New Jersey 's drinking age was lowered to 18 in 1973 as part of a broader legal change which reduced New Jersey 's age of majority from 21 to 18 . Much of the impetus for lowering the drinking age to 18 was to grant returning Vietnam veterans the right to purchase alcohol . Possibly because of concerns about 18 - year - old high school students being able to legally purchase liquor , and then illegally consume it school , the state raised the drinking age to 19 in 1980 . Citing statistics that indicated an increase in car deaths among drivers under 21 , the drinking age was raised back to 21 in 1983 . At the same time , the penalties for underage drinking were increased to include a mandatory driver 's license suspension . In 1985 , the state made it illegal for an adult to give alcohol to a person under 21 , with exception for religious services and parents serving alcohol to their own children at home or in a private area . </P>
<P> New Jersey 's drinking age was lowered to 18 in 1973 as part of a broader legal change which reduced New Jersey 's age of majority from 21 to 18 . Much of the impetus for lowering the drinking age to 18 was to grant returning Vietnam veterans the right to purchase alcohol . Possibly because of concerns about 18 - year - old high school students being able to legally purchase liquor , and then illegally consume it school , the state raised the drinking age to 19 in 1980 . Citing statistics that indicated an increase in car deaths among drivers under 21 , the drinking age was raised back to 21 in 1983 . At the same time , the penalties for underage drinking were increased to include a mandatory driver 's license suspension . In 1985 , the state made it illegal for an adult to give alcohol to a person under 21 , with exception for religious services and parents serving alcohol to their own children at home or in a private area . </P>
when did new jersey change the drinking age to 21
when did new jersey change the drinking age to 21
1983
1983