in the 80s each state was encouraged to raise or keep their drinking age as 21
I'd say more like "blackmailed" than encouraged -- yet another legacy of Big Ronnie, Don of Da U.S.A. (It was done by withholding federal highway funding from states that refused to comply. Since federal money comprises much if not most of most states' repair and maintenance budget for their roads, this was an offer they couldn't refuse. IIRC, it was the same for speed limits being lowered at the time to 55 mph.)
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Date: 2004-06-08 10:06 am (UTC)I'd say more like "blackmailed" than encouraged -- yet another legacy of Big Ronnie, Don of Da U.S.A. (It was done by withholding federal highway funding from states that refused to comply. Since federal money comprises much if not most of most states' repair and maintenance budget for their roads, this was an offer they couldn't refuse. IIRC, it was the same for speed limits being lowered at the time to 55 mph.)