Here's Why Teens Can Legally Drink in ME, MA, But Not NH

Yes, you read that title correctly. Minors can legally drink in Maine and Massachusetts, as well as Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut. New Hampshire is the only New England state where they cannot do this.

Let me explain.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Law (which sets the minimum drinking age at 21, as we know it) was not passed until 1984. However, I recently learned that this national law does not necessarily prohibit a minor from drinking alcohol. It all depends on certain state-by-state exceptions.

According to Alcohol.org, in order for states to receive certain types of federal funding, each slush adheres to the state's minimum drinking age law. However, each state may have exceptions to this law when it comes to underage drinking, and the four main ones are:

• Consent of parent/guardian
• Religious reasons
• Medical reasons
• Culinary course

In fact, there are only five states – including New Hampshire – without any of these exceptions, meaning underage drinking is prohibited no matter what. The other four are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho and West Virginia.

Essentially, the family exception rule explains why teens drink at home, in restaurants, or at weddings, and even those vary by state.

However, according to the Drinking Age Pro Con website, not all states have a family exception law. According to the website Vine Pair, the following states allow teens to drink, but the family exception law is not one of the reasons. It is rather for medical, religious or culinary reasons.

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Missouri
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• new York
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Washington, D.C.

While Rhode Island and Vermont do not have family exception laws, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut do.

As with all laws, things can change from state to state with new or amended laws, so always check.

Click here to learn more about what each emergency law means by state.