Under-Age Drinking

America's attitudes toward drinking can be traced back to the early settlers who colonized this country. Colonial Americans believed that the use of alcohol was an acceptable, even essential part of life. The tavern was the focal point for business, political, social and community activities. Some historians refer to colonial times as the "wettest" period in American history. Everybody drank - men, women and children.

Colonial America had no laws restricting children from drinking alcohol. P...