America's age 21 drinking law is interesting from a democratic standpoint: 18 to 21 year olds are too young to drink, yet old enough to vote, to participate in the political process to change the drinking age if they wished. Probably every 18-21 year old has either been affected or knows someone who has been affected by the law (perhaps being denied entry into a 21+ venue).
Perhaps a majority of 18 to 21 year olds actually do believe the drinking age should remain 21.
Or perhaps this is like a canary in a coal mine: a sign that there is something deeply wrong with our political process.
The way to attempt to change it (probably the way to do anything in politics) is to target a closely contested election. 18-21 year olds generally rarely vote, so if they can be induced to vote on an issue that they care about, they can tip a closely contested election. Ask candidates in such an election where they stand. Perhaps one will dare break ranks to support lowering the drinking age in order to win the votes of this potentially decisive voting bloc. Perhaps both will, in which case it simply becomes an issue of holding either winner to their campaign promise.
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