Bill would lower drinking age to 18 in South Carolina

Publish date: 2024-05-18

South Carolinians 18 years and older would be able to buy and drink alcohol if a bill that was prefiled this week becomes law.

Rep. Rutherford (D-Richland) filed the bill ahead of the legislative session in the South Carolina House on Wednesday. It would lower the legal drinking age to 18-years-old in the Palmetto State.

"If you’re old enough to fight for our country, old enough to vote, old enough to take out student loans — then you’re old enough to have a drink," Rep. Rutherford tweeted.

The bill has been referred to the committee on judiciary, and the State House session resumes in January.

States can adjust the minimum drinking age. Under a 1984 law, if a state lowers the age below 21, the federal government can withhold 10% of federal highway funding.

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