What is the drinking age in Washington?

Answer 1

21 years of age, effective Wednesday October 1st, 1986 as a result of emergency legislation to raise the drinking age from 18 to 21.

The bill was approved by a 10-3 Council vote late on the night of Tuesday September 23rd, 1986.

There was a grandfather clause exempting those who turned 18 before 10/1/1986, allowing that group to drink beer and wine.

Proponents said the grandfather clause was essential to get the measure passed because some council members objected to taking an existing right away from 18-year-olds.

Those born between 10/2/65 and 09/30/68 would be allowed to drink beer and wine under the grandfather clause.

By 10/1/1989 those allowed to drink beer and wine under the grandfather clause would all be older than 21.