It was 40 years ago today, the last day in history that young New Yorkers could legally drink before 21. The drinking age in my home state of New York, originally 18 for nearly half a century, was raised first to 19, effective December 4, 1982, and three years later raised to 21, effective December 1, 1985. Just in time for the holiday season. And with no grandfather clause either.
New York, due to their sheer size and clout on the national stage, was essentially the last real hope for bucking the trend and opposing federal coercion to raise the drinking age to 21. And, alas, they too drank the Kool-Aid as well. As did the other last real hope, Florida, the following year as well, albeit with a grandfather clause. Without those two anchor states, the remaining holdouts didn't stand a chance against the feds, and the rest is history.....
Note that the iconic 1985 hit song "You Belong To The City" by Glenn Frey (RIP), is now officially 40 years old as well. It came out in September 1985, three months earlier, and was famously used in the TV show Miami Vice. An excellent song and video, filmed in and taking place in New York City, very nostalgic indeed.
