1. What is the legal age for drinking alcohol in the U.S.?
2. How much is the postage for sending letters and cards within the U.S.?
3. Who should I contact for acquiring translation rights for a book?
4. How do I obtain a driver's license in the U.S.?
5. What is the legal age for smoking tobacco in the U.S.?
6. What is the legal age for getting married in the U.S.?
7. What is the compulsory education age (compulsory school attendance) in the U.S.?

Tax Issues

1. What is the sales tax in Minnesota?
2. Where can I file a U.S. tax return?

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1. What is the legal age for drinking alcohol in the U.S.?
   The legal age for alcohol in the USA is 21 years old. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public possession of alcohol age to 21. States that did not comply faced a reduction in highway funds under the Federal Highway Aid Act. The U.S. Department of Transportation has determined that all states are in compliance with this act. The national law specifically prohibits purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages. It does not prohibit persons under 21 (also called youth or minors) from drinking. Source: The Maryland Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition (MUDPC) See Fact sheet, Minimum drinking age laws. U.S. Department of Transportation.

2. How much is the postage for sending letters and cards within the U.S.?
   See Rates and Fees, United States Postal Service.

3. Who should I contact for acquiring translation rights for a book?
   To get permission, consult the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), a not-for-profit organization providing collective copyright licensing services.

4. How do I obtain a driver's license in the U.S.?
   You need to contact a local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office first. In general, you are required to take a written test and a road test before obtaining a driver's license. You can find information at your local DMV For a complete list of requirements for obtaining a driver's license see Getting a Driver's License.

5. What is the legal age for smoking tobacco in the U.S.?
   According to the Tobacco Control Legislation of 1998, Minors' Access to Tobacco Products, no retailer may sell cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to any person younger than 18 years of age. For individuals under 27 years of age, retailers shall verify age by means of photographic identification. (FDA regulation, section 897.14) Section 1926 of the Public Health Service Act requires states to enact legislation restricting the sale and distribution of tobacco products to minors as a condition of receiving federal substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant funds. States are also required to enforce these laws in a manner "that can reasonably be expected to reduce the extent to which tobacco products are available to individuals under the age of 18." (42 USC 300x-26) Federal agencies must establish regulations to prohibit the sale of tobacco products in vending machines placed in or around any facility maintained, leased or owned by the agency. Regulations also must cover distribution of free samples of tobacco products in or around agency facilities (40 USC 48[c]). You will find a complete list by state at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion site."

6. What is the legal age for getting married in the U.S.?
   It varies from state to state. See State Marriage Statutes for a comprehensive list from Cornell University Law School.

7. What is the compulsory education age (compulsory school attendance) in the U.S.?
   Ages for compulsory school attendance vary from state to state. For more information, see National Center for Education Statistics, ages for compulsory school attendance.

1. What is the sales tax in Minnesota?
   It is 6.5%. For other state sales taxes, see State sales, gasoline, cigarette, and alcohol tax rates by state.

2. Where can I file a U.S. tax return?
   See "Where to File Addresses", Internal Revenue Service.