Overview: "Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?"
Proponents of keeping the MLDA at 21 believe that teens are more likely to harm or even kill themselves and others by drinking prior to 21. Opponents contest that a MLDA of 21 has caused greater underage binge drinking and subsequent health and life endangering behavior by teens.
The debate surrounding the drinking age is ongoing, and continues to flare up on college campuses and communities around the country. We have decided to research the best pro and con arguments, facts, and studies on this issue, and provide them to the public to help foster critical thought on this important issue.
Background: "Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?"
After national alcohol prohibition ended on Dec. 5, 1933 with the ratification of the US Constitution's 21st Amendment, most states set their minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) at 21. From 1970 to 1975, concurrent with the passage of the 26th Amendment setting the legal voting age at 18 on July 1, 1971, 29 states lowered their MLDA from 21 to 18, 19, or 20.
Reports in the 1970's showing that teenage car accidents increased in states where the MLDA had been lowered from 21 prompted Congress to pass the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984(56 KB) . Although the Act did not require a national MLDA of 21, it effectively mandated it by stipulating that some federal transportation funds would be witheld from states that failed to make 21 their minimum age for purchasing and publicly possessing alcohol. Since 1984, all states that had previously lowered their MLDA from 21 have all raised their MLDA back to 21. South Dakota and Wyoming were the last states to do so in 1988.
While the MLDA is 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in 47 of 50 states age 18 is the "age of majority," which generally entails having the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. Every state sets its own "age of majority" which often corresponds with the age at which one can vote, join the military, serve in jury duty, sign contracts, marry, apply for credit and loans, make decisions regarding medical treatments, and be prosecuted as an adult. Alabama (age 19), Mississippi (21), and Nebraska (age 19) are three states that have an "age of majority" above 18, although certain rights such as the right to vote remain at 18 in these states.
The discrepancy between the MLDA and the age of majority—and its many responsibilities and authorities—along with continued incidents of alcohol abuse reported on college campuses have fueled debate on whether or not setting the MLDA at 21 is fair, smart, and effective.
Pro & Con Arguments: "Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?"
PRO Lowering Drinking Age
Turning 18 entails receiving the rights and responsibilities of adulthood to vote, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, join the military--which includes taking on the responsibilities of life and death--and be prosecuted as adults. Adults from the age of 18 should therefore also be trusted to make decisions about alcohol consumption.
When adolescents are not taught to drink in moderation, they end up binge drinking when they do consume alcohol. It is better to teach youth to learn how to drink responsibly and hold them accountable for their actions as we do with driving.
Lowering the drinking age will make alcohol less of a taboo, take away the thrill that many young people get from breaking the law, and make alcohol consumption a more normalized activity done in moderation.
Prohibiting teens from drinking in bars, restaurants, and public locations has the effect of forcing them to drink in unsupervised places such as fraternity houses or house parties. When teens get hurt from alcohol-related injuries or accidents, they are sometimes afraid of seeking medical help for fear of legal consequences. Lowering the drinking age will allow teens to drink alcohol in regulated environments with supervision.
Keeping the drinking age at 21 sends the wrong message that alcohol consumption represents maturity, which leads teens to want to consume alcohol to appear mature. Lowering the drinking age would help dispel this misconception.
National alcohol prohibition from 1920 to 1933 failed, which shows that strict regulation of drinking is counterproductive, unenforceable, and can lead to an increase in illegal and underground activities.
Enforcing an MLDA of 21 is expensive and inefficient. Drinking is still a major problem among teens. It would be more effective to spend money on educating youth about alcohol than to spend it on enforcement of drinking laws for 18 to 20 year olds.
Drinking in moderation is good for one’s health, including people aged 18 to 20.
Setting the MLDA at 21 is unconstitutional because it is discrimination against the particular age group of 18 to 20 year olds.
CON Lowering Drinking Age
States that previously lowered the drinking age to 18, such as Massachussets(4 MB) , Michigan, and Maine(9 MB) , experienced an increase in alcohol-related crashes among the 18 to 20 age goup.
Because teens are simultaneously undergoing physical changes, peer pressure, and new situations and urges, allowing them to consume alcohol can make them more vulnerable to drug and substance abuse, unplanned and unprotected sex, depression, violence, and other social ills.
Current MLDA laws set at 21 are working because the percentage of underage drinkers has decreased since 1984.
When teens drink alcohol, they are more likely to binge drink than people above the age of 21, thus demonstrating that teens are more prone to alcohol abuse than older demographics and should not be allowed to consume alcohol.
Since teens who drink alcohol have a higher chance of academic failure, allowing teens to drink will negatively affect more students' academic performance.
Lower drinking ages to 16, 17, or 18 like the MLDA in some European countries is inappropriate for US standards because American teens generally start driving at earlier ages and drive more often than their European counterparts. American teens are thus much more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol if the drinking age were lowered in the US.
The earlier a person begins alcohol use, the greater the chances are of that person becoming an alcoholic later in life, suffering negative physical withdrawal symptoms, and harming his/her brain during its development.
Between 1970 to 1975, 29 states lowered their Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) from 21 to 18, 19, or 20.
The enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 prompted states to raise their legal age for purchase or public possession of alcohol to 21 or risk losing millions in federal highway funds.
Images & Videos (click to enlarge)
A. Image Gallery(click to enlarge)
Bar graph of current, binge, and heavy alcohol use among persons aged 12 to 20, by gender in 2007. Source: Figure 3.7 in "Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings," www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH, Sep. 2008
Bar graph showing 77% of Americans opposed to lowering the drinking age to 18 nationwide, polled July 12-15, 2007. Source: "Most Americans Oppose Lowering Legal Drinking Age to 18 Nationwide," www.gallup.com, July 27, 2007
Map of exceptions (if any) to underage possession of alcohol across the United States, as of Jan. 1, 2008. Source: Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), "Exceptions to Minimum Age of 21 for Possession of Alcohol as of January 1, 2008," www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov (accessed June 4, 2009)
Bar graph showing number of states and variations in their underage alcohol consumption laws. Source: Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), "Exceptions Number of States with Family and Location Exceptions to Minimum Age of 21 for Consumption of Alcohol, January 1, 1998 through January 1, 2008 ," www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov (accessed June 5, 2009)
Proportion of 83 countries' MDLAs (if any) from ages 14 to 21. See source for the list of countries included and their drinking ages. Source: Cognac, "Legal Drinking Age In Different Countries," www.cognac.com, May 22, 2009
B. Video Gallery(click image to watch video)
Lesley Stahl, CBS 60 Minutes Correspondent, examines the debate on lowering the drinking age and interviews experts on both sides of the debate. Source: "Drinking Age Debate," 60 Minutes, CBS News, Feb. 22, 2009
CNN drinking debate interview with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Choose Responsibility. Source: "Underage Drinking," CNN, Aug. 23, 2007, available on www.youtube.com
Trace Gallagher, Co-Host of The Live Desk on FOX News, covers a summary, including pros, cons, and experts' opinions on the debate on lowering the drinking age. Source: "Drinking Dilemma," FOX Report, FOX News, Aug. 18, 2008
Readers' Comments
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We post pro, con, and not clearly pro or con comments in the approximate ratio that we received them. We sometimes edit comments for brevity, clarity, and spelling. We may also remove comments posted when we find better comments covering the same issues or for other good reasons.
PRO Lowering Drinking Age
CON Lowering Drinking Age
"I believe that the legal drinking age in the United States of America should be lowered to 18. At 18 years of age, individuals are considered at the age of majority, and qualify as adults in society. At 18 years of age, men are eligible to enlist in the armed forces, and possibly fight and die for the nation. They should also have the right to enjoy a drink at the age, as well." Joseph, Aug. 21, 2009
"You're either an adult with free will or you're not. Although I'm nearly 40, I've always thought that 18-20 year olds got screwed. Let 'em have a beer for Christ's sake or don't let them drive or vote or get married or everything else. It's one or the other. Adult or not an adult." Tommy, Aug. 10, 2009
"The drinking age should be lowered to 18 or 19. Even in neighboring Canada, the 18 or 19 drinking age is effective. Most teens drink before age 21, and a lower drinking age would most likely not push the age that teens have their first drink down further. In the U.S., many teens have been drinking since 16, just as many teens in 18 MLDA have been drinking since 16. A 21 MLDA is not enforceable, and unfairly prosecutes legal adults as minors." Anonymous, Aug. 4, 2009
"After viewing both sides I am in favor of lowering the drinking age because if your old enough to get shot up in a war, old enough to vote, old enough to be tried as an adult, you should be old enough to drink. In my opinion this is discrimination against those who are 18-20 years old. I am not saying this because I fall into that age catagory because I am over the age of 21." Michael, Aug. 3, 2009
"There should be no age limit for drinking alcohol in the US and the age of legal purchase should be lowered to 16. For those younger than 16, it should be up to parents whether or not they want to allow their child to have a glass of beer or wine along with a meal or in a social setting." Jeffrey, July 29, 2009
"I'm a sophomore and... I believe that lowering the drinking laws is completely ridiculus (or however you spell it)... Yes, drinking a glass of red wine is good for your heart now and then, but no, drinking regularly as an adolescent is completely unhealthy. Our brains are still developing, our bodies are still growing...
Teens often want to just 'grow-up'... Whether or not they are just looking to be treated as an adult, I'm not sure, but I know for a fact that lowering the drinking age is NOT making teens look any more mature than they are... Experimenting new things is what we do, but having the drinking age be 16-18 is just encouraging bad behavior and letting us know that sneaking out to upperclassmen's parties and getting high and drunk... is okay... and it's not!" Shelley, Sep. 19, 2009
"Drinking is hazardous to ones health. It ruins relationships and can cause the loss of a job. The drinking age should continue to be 21 even though I would like to see availability of booz to be cut off completely." Sandy, Aug. 28, 2009
"I taught high School for 20 years. I observed the change from a 21 year old drinking age to an 18 year old drinking age. I think it was a disaster. I observed that when students wanted to get alcohol, and were underage, they had the 21 year olds buying it for them. With the drinking age lower, it tended to make the 16 year olds think they should ask the 18 year olds to buy alcohol for them. In other words, for some reason the expectation to drink started at an earlier age." Pauline, Aug. 24, 2009
"The minimum legal drinking age should remain at 21. The human brain continues to develop until late teen years and alcohol has shown to have negative effects on healthy brain development. Many strategies have been proven to prevent underage drinking, so lowering the drinking age is not needed as a binge drinking prevention strategy if these proven strategies are universally implemented. Parents can still teach their children to drink responsibly even with the drinking age at 21. In Europe, the legal drinking age is below 21 and many countries have teen binge drinking rates higher than the United States. Policy-makers in the UK, Italy, and France are considering increasing their legal drinking age." Inga, July 31, 2009
"The brain evidence is the strongest argument, other than the objective data about car crashes, for keeping the MLDA at 21. In fact, if we believed the brain science, we would be talking about raising the MLDA, not lowering it." Anonymous, July 30, 2009
NOT CLEARLY PRO OR CON Lowering Drinking Age
"I'd be cool with decreasing drinking age if they increased the driving age. It's not the drinking that kills, it's the driving - especially drunk driving.
Make licenses really hard to get like in Europe, raise the driving age to 18+, and make it really expensive for young people to be behind the wheels." Anonymous, Aug. 12, 2009
"PRO point # 10 is not proven. Alcohol, even in moderation has de minimis, if any, health benefits. The health benefits ascribed to alcohol are generally in the non-alcoholic portion of the drink as is the case with wine." Anonymous, Aug. 11, 2009
"The U.S. has legal 'prohibition' for underage drinking, and this may actually encourage alcohol abuse in young adults because drinking is then 'forbidden fruit'. Further, this attitude can continue into adulthood. Perhaps there is research to support/dispel this somewhere." Rob, Aug. 6, 2009
Sources
Sources/References: The summary and pro and con arguments were written by ProCon.org staff based upon input from the following primary and secondary sources (in alphabetical order by source):
Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), "Underage Possession of Alcohol," "Underage Consumption of Alcohol," and "Underage Purchase of Alcohol," wwww.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov (accessed June 4, 2009)
American Medical Association (AMA), "Minimum Legal Drinking Age," www.ama-assn.org (accessed June 4, 2009)
Amethyst Initiative, "Statement," www.amethystinitiative.org (accessed June 4, 2009)
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Alcohol Policies Project, "Fact Sheet: Lowering the Minimum Drinking Age Is a Bad Idea," www.cspinet.org, Feb. 1998
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Age 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age," www.cdc.gov (accessed June 5, 2009)
Choose Responsibiltiy, "FAQs," www.chooseresponsibility.org(accessed June 2, 2009)
Stephen Cucchiaro, Joseph Ferreira, Jr., and Alan Sicherman, "The Effect of the 18-Year Old Drinking Age on Auto Accidents," www.dspace.mit.edu, May 1974
Thomas S. Dee and William N. Evans, "Behavioral Policies and Teen Traffic Safety," American Economic Review, May 2001
Digital History, "Prohibition," www.digitalhistory.uh.edu (accessed June 9, 2009)
R.L. Douglass, L.D. Filkins, and F.A. Clark, "The Effect of Lower Legal Drinking Ages on Youth Crash Involvement," www.deepblue.lib.umich.edu, June 1974
David J. Hanson, PhD, "State & Local Laws," Alcohol Problems and Solutions website (accessed June 5, 2009)
J.H. Hedlund, R.G. Ulmer, and D.F. Preusser, "Determine Why There Are Fewer Young Alcohol Impaired Drivers," www.nhtsa.dot.gov, Sep. 2001
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), "Underage Drinking and the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) Law," www.madd.org (accessed June 4, 2009)
National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), "Traffic Safety Facts 2002," www.nhtsa.dot.gov, 2002
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), "Alcohol's Damaging Effects on the Brain," Alcohol Alert, Oct. 2004
National Youth Rights Association (NYRA), "Drinking Age," www.youthrights.org (accessed June 3, 2009)
Patrick M. O'Malley and Alexander C. Wagenaar, "Minimum Drinking Age Laws: Effects on American Youth, 1975-1987," www.monitoringthefuture.org, 1990
Justin Pope, "College Presidents Want Lower Drinking Age," New York Sun, Aug. 19, 2008
Barry M. Sweedler, "The Worldwide Decline in Drinking and Driving: Has It Continued?," Presentation for the 15th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety in Stockholm (Sweden), www.ntsb.gov, May 2000
US Department of Human Health and Services (DHHS), "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking," www.hhs.gov, 2007
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website provides a summary of the debate on whether or not the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to a younger age.
. Although the Act did not require a national MLDA of 21, it effectively mandated it by stipulating that some federal transportation funds would be witheld from states that failed to make 21 their minimum age for purchasing and publicly possessing alcohol. Since 1984, all states that had previously lowered their MLDA from 21 have all raised their MLDA back to 21. South Dakota and Wyoming were the last states to do so in 1988. 
