The national drinking age for the past few decades has been 21 and up. In 1983, the national drinking age was 18 and up to purchase and consume alcohol. Under the national minimum drinking age act of 1984, the national government threatened to cut highway funding to states that did change their drinking laws. Since then, the national drinking age has been 21 and up, but it has caused more problems than it was intended to fix. The drinking age should return to show how it was previously changed to 1984.