Why is the legal drinking age 21?

BBALL MAn

In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Purchase Age Act, to encourage each state to enact a minimum legal purchase age (MLPA) of 21 by 1986. The result was impressive: an estimated 1,071 lives were saved in 1987 alone. From 1975 - 1996, the estimated number of lives saved reached nearly 17,000.(2) In addition to a 63% decline in alcohol-related crash fatalities among young drivers since 1982, findings show that the MLPA has decreased the number of DWI arrests, youth suicides, marijuana use, crime, and alcohol consumption by youth.(3,4)

Youth Alcohol Consumption

* High school seniors who could not legally drink until age 21 drank less before age 21 and between ages 21 - 25 than did seniors in states with lower drinking ages.(5,6) Similarly, a national survey of 16 - 21 year-olds found that teens from states with a higher MLPA drank less frequently.(7)

* The 1978 National Study of Adolescent Drinking Behavior found that 10th - 12th graders in states with lower drinking ages drank significantly more, were less likely to abstain from alcohol, and were drunk more often than students in states with a drinking age of 21.(8)

* A study of New York college students documented that students who began drinking at younger ages were more likely to drink heavily in college. They were also more likely to report alcohol-related problems such as trouble at work, with friends, family, and police.(9)

* The behavior of 18 year-olds is particularly influential on youth ages 15 - 17, as young people typically imitate the practices of those who are slightly older, rather than the practices of those who are significantly older.(10) Therefore, if 18 year-olds can legally drink, their immediate, younger peers will drink too.

Fatalities, Crashes, and DWI Arrests

* State motor vehicle fatality data from the 48 continental states found that lowering the MLPA for beer from 21 to 18 during the 1970s resulted in an 11% increase in fatalities among this age group.(11)

* An Arizona Department of Public Safety report found that fatal accidents increased over 25% while traffic fatalities increased more than 35% after the state MLPA was lowered from 21 to 19.(12)

* A Michigan study found that police reports of â€œhad been drinkingâ€ crashes increased 35%, while the incidence of nighttime single-vehicle crashes among young men increased 17% after the state reduced its MLPA from 21 to 18.(13) Another Michigan study found that DWI arrests increased 141% for 18 - 20 year-olds after the state lowered the MLPA. Roadside surveys showed that the proportion of 16 - 20 year-old drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) over .05 more than doubled.(14)

Other Alcohol-Related Problems

* The younger a person begins using alcohol, the greater the chance of developing alcohol dependence or abuse some time in their life. Of those who begin drinking at age-18, 16.6% subsequently are classified with alcohol dependence and 7.8% with alcohol abuse. If a person waits until age-21 before taking their first drink, these risks decrease by over 60%.(15)

* The earlier a person begins using alcohol, the greater the risk of current and adult drug use(16, 17) and harm to the developing brain.(18)

* Between 1979 and 1984, the suicide rate was 9.7% greater among adolescents and young adults who could legally consume alcohol than among their peers who could not.(19)

* Using national data on alcohol and drug use among high school seniors from 1976 - 1987, one study found a decrease in marijuana use associated with increases in the MLPA.(20)

* In raising the MLPA from 18 to 21, states observed an average 16% decrease in the rate of vandalism arrests, compared to an average 1.7% increase in states with a constant MLPA of 18.(21)

* In Australia, lowering the drinking age was associated with an increase of 20% to 25% in cases of male delinquency.(22)

* An Australian study of two states that lowered their MLPA found â€œa significant increaseâ€ in hospital admissions as a result of non-traffic alcohol-related accidents.(23)

Hope This Helps

BBALLMAN

homeward07

Laws are made for increased revenue, and to deprive a person of normalcy.

More teens drink if forbidden to. When caught, their life is screwed up permanently.

Government thrives best where most are afflicted and limited.

America has perfected the science almost perfectly now.
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smile4cobra

You know...beats the heck out of me.

You get to move out, get married, have kids and make a family, get credit cards, etc. When your 18 but you have to wait 3 years thereafter to have a legal drink.

heheh. Smart.

dave j

Because young people tend to over-drink, puke all over the restroom, make total idiots out of themselves and ruin it for the rest of us.

jezusjones

so that its easier to buy weed than beer at 18 i guess.

camopaiser

Because they actually think you are mature at that age. I personally think it should be 18 you may be out of school and I do not think we would have so many teens drunk driving. If they are in a Bar they are being controlled on what they drink, bartenders should watch who and what they drink then drive I believe everyone should have a DD.

joeanonymous

It isn't everywhere, here in Canada it ranges from 18 (in Quebec) to 19 (Ontario).
It used to be 21 here back when my Mom was a young lady (1950's). She tells me she was 20, married, working as a teacher, running a household, but wasn't old enough to have a beer!

As far as I'm concerned, it should be 18 everywhere, you are considered an adult at that age and can vote, join the military, get married etc. why not drink?

One Sexy Jeep Girl

So that idiots like you can come on yahoo answers and cry about it.

Amanda A

Hummm I guess we are more mature in Canada... it is only 19 here!

all_roads_lead_home

OOOh thats a bummer its 18 here, but we never wait that long!

Goldenrae9

It was an initiative by Mothers Against Drunk Driving in a response to the large number of alcohol related fatalities that happened to those who were between 18-21.

Joe-O

I think it's because that's about the like level 2 of mature or something.

HarryMay

cause the federal government bribed the state governments by withholding highway mantenence funds if they didn't raise it - so one by one they all complied...I think the feds globbed onto that magical number (21) cause of excessively powerful, overfunded groups like MADD

Kevy

becuase god hates you

Iman

So that our 18 year old soldiers can't get drunk to cope with war.

marion r

So that people get out of high school and explore a basic sober life before they are old enough to drink.

Rouge Rocker

Here in M.D. it was 18 but the powers that be changed it to 21 back in the 80's to cut down on traffic fatality's. All it did was make allot of younger people go to Del. to get there drink, another measure that cost this state revenue.

ch3nzo23

Because it used to be 18 and kids would get in car accidents when they get their license.

Most people don't wait to screw up their liver's anyway.

LuluBelle

Because it should be. Enough said.

Theodore Sebastian

The drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 because of widespread alcahol related accidents and fatalities.

Esther D

A large majoritry of people don't have the self control to not over dirnk until atleast the age of 21. Many still dont have that control by 21. Look at the number of alchoholic, and the number of DUI's.

Joe

Because it is. And you can drink at any age with parents consent. O also you can buy beer at grocery store when you are 18. the 3.2 stuff. It tastes basically the same.

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