These days, there are more (and better) low- and no-alcohol beers on the market than ever, meaning drinkers looking for less buzz in their beverage are in luck. Does eliminating all (or most) of the alcohol in an IPA or Pilsner mean that kids are allowed to drink nonalcoholic beer? It’s a question that’s worth exploring. Generally, minors under the age of 21 can consume nonalcoholic beers because they don’t fall into the federal government-defined category of beer in the National Minimum Drinking Age (NMDA) Act of 1984. As long as NA beer has less than one-half of a percent ABV, it’s not actually “beer,” despite the label. Three states — Mississippi, North Dakota, and Ohio — only allow the drinking of NA beer by those 18 and older. Can minors buy nonalcoholic beer? This is where things get more complicated. In some states, minors can't buy nonalcoholic beer — but in other states, it's either allowed or simply isn't regulated. A general rule of thumb, however, is that if your state allows minors to consume nonalcoholic beer, it also allows minors to purchase it.
