Lena Savoie
There are ongoing debates about the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) and whether it should be lowered from 21 to 18. Opponents argue that lowering the drinking age would give high schoolers easier access to alcohol, resulting in more underage binge drinking and an increase in alcohol-related harm. Supporters of retaining the MLDA at 21 argue that it helps protect the health and safety of young people, lowers the risk of developing alcohol and substance use disorders, and leads to fewer alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Studies have found that when the MLDA is lowered, injury and death rates increase, while raising the MLDA leads to a decline in these rates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Arguments in favour of retaining MLDA 21 | Preventing high schoolers from having easier access to alcohol, reducing youth drinking and driving, reducing alcohol-related harm, and protecting the health and safety of young people |
| Arguments against retaining MLDA 21 | Normalizing alcohol consumption, reducing the thrill of breaking the law, decreasing physically and mentally fatal accidents, and providing alcohol education |
| Statistics | MLDA-21 laws have saved an estimated 538 lives in 2017 alone, and 31,959 lives since 1975; 93.2% of high school students have bent the law to drink as of 2014; 50 peer-reviewed studies show a higher MLDA is effective in preventing alcohol-related deaths and injuries among youth |
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What You'll Learn
Increased access to alcohol for younger students
Lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21 to 18 would give younger high schoolers easier access to alcohol. Opponents of the proposal argue that it would be unsafe, leading to more underage binge drinking and increasing the danger for high school students. In 2014, 93.2% of high school students had already broken the law to have a drink, and lowering the drinking age would only increase the number of people involved in alcohol-related crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that MLDA-21 laws have saved 31,959 lives since 1975 and around 538 lives in 2017 alone. Studies have shown that when the minimum legal drinking age is lowered, injury and death rates increase, and when the MLDA is raised, death and injury rates decline. For instance, when the MLDA was lowered to 18, the fatalities in traffic accidents related to alcohol decreased by 7.5%. However, this statistic is counterintuitive and may be due to other factors.
MLDA laws save lives and protect everyone, especially young people, from alcohol-related harm. The laws reduce drinking, driving after drinking, and alcohol-related crashes and injuries among youth. Drinking and driving has become less socially acceptable among youth, and more youth have separated their drinking from their driving. The laws also lead to fewer harmful births, lower rates of suicide and homicide, and fewer deaths from alcohol poisoning.
Proponents of lowering the MLDA argue that it would diminish the thrill of breaking the law to get a drink. Normalizing alcohol consumption as something to be done responsibly and in moderation will make drinking alcohol less of a taboo for young adults entering college and the workforce. Lowering the MLDA would make 18–20-year-olds subject to the same laws enforced for those 21 and over.
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Higher risk of alcohol-related injuries and deaths
Lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21 to 18 would give high schoolers easier access to alcohol. Opponents of the proposal argue that it would result in more underage binge drinking and increase the risk of alcohol-related injuries and deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that MLDA laws save approximately 900 lives per year in traffic fatalities alone. When the MLDA has been lowered, injury and death rates increase, and when the MLDA is raised, these rates decline. For instance, in 2009, the 21- to 24-year-old age group had the highest percentage (35%) of drivers in fatal crashes with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels above the legal limit. Studies have shown that when the MLDA was lowered to 18, fatalities in traffic accidents related to alcohol decreased by nearly 7.5%. However, it is important to note that these studies may be influenced by other factors, such as improved road safety measures or changes in drinking culture over time.
MLDA-21 laws have been proven to reduce drinking and driving, as well as alcohol-related crashes and injuries among youth. Drinking and driving has become less socially acceptable among young people, and more youth are choosing not to drink and drive. In addition, MLDA laws reduce youth drinking overall and lower the risk of developing alcohol and other substance use disorders. Several national organizations support the MLDA of 21, as it leads to fewer harmful births, lower rates of suicide and homicide, and fewer deaths from alcohol poisoning.
On the other hand, proponents of lowering the MLDA argue that doing so would diminish the thrill of breaking the law to get a drink. Normalizing alcohol consumption as something to be done responsibly and in moderation would make drinking alcohol less of a taboo for young adults entering college and the workforce. They also believe that abusive and high-risk drinking by youth would be dramatically curtailed by adopting the lower drinking age and providing alcohol education. However, opponents counter that lowering the drinking age will not solve the complex problems of high-risk drinking and alcohol abuse and that the higher MLDA is one effective approach to mitigate these issues.
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More underage binge drinking
Opponents of lowering the drinking age from 21 argue that it would result in more underage binge drinking, giving high school students easier access to alcohol. They believe that the current Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws are successful in reducing underage drinking and protecting the health and safety of young people.
Research has shown that when the MLDA has been lowered, injury and death rates increase, and when the MLDA is raised, death and injury rates decline. Studies have also found that individuals who were legally restricted from drinking before turning 21 are less likely to engage in binge drinking behaviours in later adulthood. This suggests that maintaining a higher drinking age can help curb underage binge drinking.
In addition, the current MLDA laws help lower the risk of developing alcohol and substance use disorders, reduce harmful births, lower rates of suicide and homicide, and decrease deaths from alcohol poisoning. These laws also aim to reduce the social, academic, and legal issues associated with underage drinking, such as school absences, lower grades, and drinking and driving.
Furthermore, opponents argue that lowering the drinking age would normalise alcohol consumption for high school students, making it less taboo. This could potentially lead to more high school students experimenting with alcohol and engaging in binge drinking.
While some proponents of lowering the drinking age argue that it would diminish the thrill of breaking the law and curb abusive drinking behaviours, opponents believe that the benefits of retaining the current MLDA of 21 outweigh the potential risks associated with lowering the drinking age.
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Normalising alcohol consumption
Lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21 to 18 would, according to some, give high schoolers easier access to alcohol. Opponents argue that this would result in more underage binge drinking and that the current MLDA decreases traffic accidents caused by alcohol consumption. However, proponents of lowering the drinking age argue that it would diminish the thrill of breaking the law to get a drink. Normalising alcohol consumption as something to be done responsibly and in moderation will make drinking alcohol less of a taboo for young adults entering college and the workforce.
The debate around the MLDA has been ongoing, with some arguing that the higher drinking age encourages underage drinking and other illegal activities, such as driving while intoxicated and illicit drug use. Lowering the drinking age would make 18-20-year-olds subject to the same laws as those 21 and over. Additionally, when the MLDA has been lowered in the past, injury and death rates have increased, while raising the MLDA has resulted in a decrease in these rates. Several national organisations support maintaining the MLDA at 21, citing the success of these laws in reducing alcohol-related harm, particularly among youth.
On the other hand, some argue that the current MLDA encourages college students to drink in secret, leading to excessive consumption on occasion. They also point to the fact that many young people already consume alcohol, and that lowering the drinking age would reduce the number of physically and mentally fatal accidents. In addition, a lower drinking age in other countries has not resulted in more alcohol-related harm, and providing alcohol education alongside a lower drinking age could potentially reduce abusive and high-risk drinking among youth.
While there are valid arguments on both sides of the debate, it is important to consider the potential consequences of any changes to the MLDA. Normalising alcohol consumption for younger individuals is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits. Ultimately, the goal is to find a balance that promotes responsible drinking while minimising harm, especially among young people.
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Decreased risk of developing alcohol use disorders
Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) from 21 to 18 is a contentious issue. Opponents argue that it would give high schoolers easier access to alcohol, increasing the dangers faced by underage drinkers. They also argue that it would result in more underage binge drinking and alcohol-related traffic accidents.
However, proponents of lowering the MLDA argue that it would diminish the thrill of breaking the law to get a drink. They believe that normalizing alcohol consumption as something to be done responsibly and in moderation will make drinking alcohol less of a taboo for young adults. Additionally, they argue that the current MLDA encourages underage drinking and potentially other illegal activities, such as driving while intoxicated and illicit drug use.
Despite the arguments on both sides, research suggests that lowering the MLDA may increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorders. Here are four to six paragraphs on the decreased risk of developing alcohol use disorders associated with a higher MLDA:
A higher MLDA has been associated with a reduced risk of developing alcohol use disorders (AUD) in later adulthood. Studies have found that individuals who were legally restricted from drinking before the age of 21 were less likely to develop AUDs. This suggests that a higher MLDA can protect individuals from the harmful effects of alcohol and potentially reduce the risk of developing alcohol-related chronic diseases.
Reduced Alcohol Consumption and Related Problems
Research has shown a strong inverse relationship between MLDA and alcohol consumption and its related problems. As the MLDA increases, alcohol-related problems among youth decrease. This includes a decrease in alcohol-related injuries and deaths, as well as a reduction in public health issues such as assaults, homicides, suicides, and teenage pregnancies. By restricting access to alcohol for individuals under 21, the risk of developing AUDs may be lowered.
Neurobiological Factors
Adolescence is a critical period during which vulnerability to substance use disorders is at its highest. Neurobiological evidence supports this theory, suggesting that a higher MLDA can protect individuals during this vulnerable stage and reduce the likelihood of developing AUDs.
Long-Term Benefits
While some argue that lower drinking ages will lead to safer drinking among youth, research suggests otherwise. Studies have found that individuals exposed to a permissive MLDA (
Protective Cohort Effect
In addition to the direct effects on individuals, a higher MLDA may also have a protective cohort effect on society. Research has suggested that a higher drinking age appears to confer protection against fatal traffic accidents, especially among men. Additionally, a higher MLDA may reduce the risk of death by suicide and homicide among adult women. These indirect effects can contribute to a decrease in the overall risk of developing AUDs within a community.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) to 18 would give high schoolers easier access to alcohol.
The MLDA of 21 helps to lower the risk of developing alcohol and other substance use disorders. It also supports communities by leading to fewer harmful births, lower rates of suicide and homicide, and fewer deaths from alcohol poisoning. Studies have shown that when the MLDA is lowered, injury and death rates increase, and when the MLDA is raised, death and injury rates decline.
Proponents of lowering the MLDA to 18 argue that doing so would diminish the thrill of breaking the law to get a drink. Normalising alcohol consumption as something to be done responsibly and in moderation will make drinking alcohol less of a taboo for young adults entering college and the workforce.
Opponents argue that keeping the MLDA at 21 will result in more underage binge drinking, and that high school students will find ways to access alcohol illegally. They also argue that the MLDA of 21 encourages drinking in secret, which can lead to excessive consumption.
Lowering the MLDA to 18 would make 18–20-year-olds subject to the same laws enforced for those 21 and over. This could potentially reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes, as drinking and driving has become less socially acceptable among youth.
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