Minimum Legal Drinking Age

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, “almost 80% of high school students have tried alcohol” (Dowshen). These students are more likely to show serious drinking problems later in life during middle age and adulthood. People are debating that the minimum legal drinking age of 21 years is not working to stop youths from drinking alcohol. Lowering the drinking age to 18 will make alcohol more available to those that are younger to purchase and consume. Even though 18 is the legal age of adulthood, the minimum legal drinking age should remain at 21 because the 18-year-old adult body is not done maturing, it reduces alcohol-related fatalities, and will decrease risky behavior.

“Since Colonial times, drinking alcohol
“The 18th amendment, which prohibits the ‘manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors', was adopted by Congress and sent to the states for ratification” (ProQuest Staff, “Underage Drinking Timeline”). Prohibition was difficult to enforce and failed to remove crime and other social problems which led to a rise in bootlegging of alcohol. Later on in 1933, the 21st Amendment was approved which ended Prohibition (ProQuest Staff, “Underage Drinking Timeline”). A few years later the number of underage drinkers raised to 70% (ProQuest Staff, “Underage Drinking Timeline”). In 1971, after the 21th amendment was approved, “Twenty-nine states lowered the minimum legal drinking age to 18, 19, or 20, so men serving in the U.S. military in Vietnam could also vote” (ProQuest Staff, “Underage Drinking Timeline”). Shortly, as this law went into place, the results were fast. Drunk driving accidents and alcohol-related fatalities increased significantly in those states. As a result of the 29 states lowering the minimum legal drinking age, underage drinkers would drive to the state with a lower drinking age and would sell illegal alcohol. As a result, 16 states had increased their drinking ages back to age 21 by
Since the drinking age has been changed to 21, it has raised “tens of thousands of lives have been saved in traffic crashes alone” (Hanes). When adolescents and young adults consume alcohol and drive alcohol, it reduces their coordination and makes them more likely to take risks like driving while under the influence of alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “5,051 drivers ages 16-20 were involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes" (Hanes). A recent study done in New Zealand confirmed that lowering the drinking age increased the number of alcohol-related crashes. The study showed that the numbers of alcohol fatalities increased among teenagers increased 12% since the law change. The age for buying alcohol was lowered to 18, from 20, in 1999. Since then there has been a debate about whether this law was effective A higher minimum drinking age would reduce crashes in very young drivers. “Teens who mix drinking and driving are more than twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers twenty-one and older who drink” (ProQuest Staff, “At Issue: Underage Drinking”). Studies looked at the relationship between the minimum drinking age and traffic crashes. It was found that there was 58% fewer crashes associated with a higher minimum drinking age. Every time a teenager drinks, they are more likely to drink and drive resulting in traffic crashes and lowering the minimum