17 Things You're Allowed to Do Once You Turn 21

Drink and purchase alcohol.

In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. This means that you can order drinks at restaurants, clubs, and bars, and purchase alcohol at grocery and liquor stores once you turn 21. All you need to do is present your ID with your birthday on it!

Go to a nightclub or bar.

Most nightclubs, strip clubs, and bars require customers to be over 21. There are some clubs that only require customers to be over 18, but you’ll usually be required to wear a wristband that marks you as underage and prevents you from buying alcohol. At 21, you’re legally able to visit any bar or club you’d like, order drinks, and have a great time!

Participate in a wine tasting.

At 21, you can visit a winery and taste a sampling of their wines. This is a great option if you’d like to exercise your new ability to legally drink alcohol, but nightclubs and bars aren’t really your scene. Wine tastings are a fun activity you can do with your friends, and you can even turn the experience into a weekend getaway by visiting a winery in another city or state.

Buy tobacco products.

In 2019, the minimum age to buy tobacco was raised to 21. Prior to this, you only needed to be 18 to buy tobacco products in most states. Now, if you want to purchase and use tobacco products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars, you'll need to present a valid ID proving that you're at least 21 years old. Some U.S. states haven’t officially raised their own minimum legal sales age for tobacco yet, but they’re still required to abide by the new federal law.

Buy legal cannabis products (in some states).

In states where marijuana use is legal, you need to be 21 to buy it. As of 2024, recreational marijuana use is fully legal in 24 states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, and New York. If you live in any of these states and you're over 21, you can purchase the cannabis products of your choice legally.

Buy a lottery ticket in all U.S. states.

In most states, the minimum age to play the lottery is 18, but there's one exception. In the state of Louisiana, you must be 21 years of age to buy a lottery ticket. This means that, when you turn 21, you’re officially able to purchase a lottery ticket in any of the U.S. states that sell them. Interestingly, there are 5 U.S. states that don’t sell lottery tickets at all. These states are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

Gamble and visit a casino.

At 21, you can legally visit a casino and gamble. Whether you’re planning on visiting Las Vegas or checking out a local casino in your home state, you’re finally able to try your luck on the slot machines, or play table games such as blackjack or poker once you turn 21. Just be sure to gamble responsibly!

Stay at a 21+ all-inclusive resort.

Some “adults only” resorts require guests to be over 21. This is likely to ensure that all guests are legally allowed to drink the alcohol the resort is serving. Once you turn 21, you can book a room at one of these hotels and enjoy a relaxing trip, free from the hectic energy that often goes along with more family-centric resorts.

Book a 21+ cruise.

Some “adults only” cruises are only available to guests who are over 21. These cruises are often designed to provide a more relaxing experience for older guests (or a more booze-y one, depending on the cruise). After you turn 21, you’re officially allowed to book a ticket for one of these cruises and enjoy the unique, child-free experience!

Attend 21+ concerts and events.

Some concerts take place at venues that require guests to be 21 or over. These venues often serve alcohol or function as bars as well, so they restrict entry to anyone under 21 in order to comply with the federal drinking age. After you turn 21, you’re legally allowed to enter these venues, so you no longer need to worry about missing out on an awesome concert just because you’re too young!

Rent a car.

You’re allowed to rent a car at 21, but there may be extra fees. You may have heard that you need to be 25 years old to rent a car in the U.S., but this isn’t always true. To rent a car through the major car rental service Enterprise, you only need to be 21 years old. However, all drivers who are under 25 are required to pay a “young renter fee,” so it will unfortunately be a little pricier.

Teach someone to drive.

In many states, you need to be over 21 to teach someone how to drive. This is because new drivers must earn their learner’s permit before taking their driving test, and these permits often require a licensed driver over the age of 21 to be in the car. Some states may require you to be older to teach someone to drive. In California, for example, a licensed driver over the age of 25 needs to be in the car with a permit holder.

Become a bartender.

Most states require bartenders to be 21 or older. This makes sense, considering that you need to be at least 21 to consume alcohol yourself! If you’re over 21 and you’re interested in becoming a bartender, consider taking a bartending course. You’ll be able to decide whether it's the right career for you, and learn how to make some delicious cocktails in the process!

Get married without parental consent in all U.S. states.

In Mississippi, the legal age to get married is 21. Other U.S. states only require you to be 18 (or 19, for Nebraska) to get married, but Mississippi requires parental consent for anyone who tries to get married under the age of 21. After your 21st birthday, you're officially allowed to get married without parental consent in all 50 states.

Adopt a child.

Some states require you to be 21 years old to adopt a child. Once you turn 21, you can officially become an adoptive parent in Delaware, Colorado, and Oklahoma. You can also adopt a child in Washington, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Montana, since they only require adoptive parents to be 18 or older.

Get a horizontal ID.

Some states issue vertical driver’s licenses to people under 21. These vertical designs are meant to help restaurants, retailers, and bars distinguish underage customers. Once you turn 21 and reach the legal drinking age, you can officially request to change your ID to the horizontal format.

Get a concealed weapons license.

You need to be 21 to apply for a concealed weapons license in some states. Although many states only require you to be 18 years old to apply for this license, California, New York, Colorado, Arizona, and more require applicants to be over 21.