Final answer:
Under federal law provided by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, children under the age of 18 are typically not allowed to operate potentially dangerous machinery, including heavy mixers, to ensure their safety and encourage schooling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under federal law, there are no specific age requirements to operate a mixer. However, considering the context of federal legislation related to youth and employment, we refer to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, which includes provisions to protect minors from working in hazardous occupations. For non-agricultural jobs, children under the age of 18 are generally prohibited from operating heavy machinery. If the mixer in question is deemed potentially dangerous equipment, the FLSA would likely restrict individuals under the age of 18 from operating it to promote education and discourage child labor.
It is important to note that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 is unrelated to employment laws and solely pertains to alcohol consumption, requiring states to set the drinking age at 21 or risk losing federal highway funds.