100 of 102 analyses (98%) of a meta-study on the legal drinking age and traffic accidents found a higher legal drinking age, which is associated with lower rates of road accidents. [19] In the 30 years since the introduction of MLDA 21, drunk driving deaths have decreased by one-third. [50] The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that MLDA 21 saved 31,417 lives between 1975 and 2016. [50] Normalizing responsible drinking from an early age and controlling driving under the influence of alcohol can reduce drunk driving. Germany, Russia and China are examples. This means that an overwhelming majority of under-21s drink alcohol anyway. There is no point in ruining someone`s life by drinking minors when responsible drinking habits can be encouraged from the age of 18. Adults between the ages of 18 and 20 should not be denied this enjoyment if other enjoyable activities are legal by the age of 18. A U.S. District Court ruled in December. 22, 1978 that MLDA 21 is “reasonably related to a state objective of reducing motor vehicle accidents” and that MLDA 21 resists constitutional challenge on three important legal issues: (1) alcohol consumption is not a constitutionally guaranteed “fundamental right,” (2) age is not inherently a criterion for “suspect” discrimination (as opposed to race or ethnic origin, for example), and (3) alcohol consumption age to avoid road accidents has a “rational basis” in the available scientific evidence. [29] It is prohibited to consume alcohol in public places, with the exception of designated drinking areas, regardless of age.
In the 1970s, provincial and state policymakers in Canada and the United States switched to lower MLDAs (set at 21 in most provinces, territories and states) to coincide with the age of judicial majority – usually 18. As a result, MLDAs have been reduced in all Canadian provinces [and] in more than half of U.S. states. In Canada, however, two provinces, Ontario (1979) and Saskatchewan (1976), rapidly increased their subsequent AOMLs from ages 18 to 19 in response to some studies showing a link between lowering the drinking age and increasing alcohol-related harms among adolescents and young adults, including increases in motor vehicle crashes and alcohol poisoning among high school students. Following the reduction of AMRs in the United States, research conducted in several states provided convincing evidence of a sharp increase in fatal and non-fatal traffic accident rates that occurred immediately after the introduction of a lower age for drinking. These scientific discoveries increased public pressure on legislators to increase MLDAs, and in response, the federal government introduced the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which required a reduction in highway funding for states if they did not increase their MLDA to 21. All states complied and introduced a 21-year MLDA in 1988. [39] According to the CDC, alcohol consumption before the age of 21 is associated with death from alcohol poisoning, car accidents, drowning, suicide, problems with academic performance, etc. Many rights in the United States are granted to citizens who are 21 years of age or older. A person cannot legally buy a handgun, gamble at a casino (in most states), or adopt a child until age 21, rent a car at age 25 (for most businesses), or run for president until age 35. Alcohol consumption should be limited in the same way because of responsibility to oneself and others. [24] According to a meta-study on MLDA, 87% of studies found a higher legal drinking age associated with lower alcohol consumption.
[19] Studies show that when the drinking age is 21, those under 21 drink less and drink less in their early twenties, and adolescents who do not drink before the age of 21 tend to drink less in adulthood. [42] The number of 18- to 20-year-olds who drank alcohol in the past month increased from 59% in 1985 – one year after Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act – to 39% in 2016. [49] [51] The method of calculating the legal age for alcohol is slightly different from the calculation of the Korean age, where another year is added to the person`s age, whereas this method does not take into account only the month and day of birth, but only the year. [105] Young people may choose not to drink or drink less frequently because social acceptance decreases or the risks posed by parental or judicial authorities are increased. Older teens and adults are less likely to provide liquor to minors, and licensed liquor stores are less likely to sell to minors because they think it`s illegal, morally wrong, or because they might be caught. [18] Police may search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy alcoholic beverages in their possession. Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and child protection services, who may be involved in child protection proceedings. In addition, a fine is imposed on persons aged 15 and over.
[167] All 50 U.S. states have set their minimum drinking age at 21, although there are state-to-state exceptions for consumption at home, under adult supervision, for medical and other reasons. We hear parents say over and over again, “I took their keys so no one could drive.” While removing the keys reduces one of the risks associated with underage drinking, the other risks are still present. A detective I work with regularly tells me that he gets quite frequent calls from parties where the parents are at home, they took the keys, but their daughter was sexually abused by someone at the party at 2 am. In the United States, 31% of car accidents result from impaired driving, or DUI, the third highest rate in the world. In Germany, where the legal drinking age is 16, and in Russia, where the legal drinking age is 18, the rate is 9%. China, which has no minimum drinking age, sees its rate at 4 percent, according to Sand Law, a North Dakota law firm. I`m from Puerto Rico where the drinking age is 18+, and I totally agree that they taught us to drink from a young age. Instead of drinking in sketchy places, I grew up in bars and restaurants where I developed a sense that drinking is a way to socialize so I don`t look cool.
The problem I had when I came to the United States is that the majority of young people don`t know how to drink, and most of the time it`s because you don`t learn to drink. For example, a friend of mine from Texas and her group fall to the ground for an hour or two. This is largely because you didn`t learn to drink from a young age. I`m not saying that not everyone in the United States knows how to drink, but a majority doesn`t know how to drink. Also, I find it incredible that an 18+ year old can buy an assault rifle and carry it, but not drink. Also, keep in mind that a student goes to college and cannot drink until their 3rd year of university. It`s absurd. I love the United States, but they have to lower that age for God`s sake.
It makes no sense. 76% of bars sold alcohol to obviously drunk diners [43], and about half of drivers stopped for drunk driving or drunk in motor vehicle accidents drank in licensed establishments [44] [45] [46]. Neighborhoods with a higher density of bars, nightclubs and other alcohol outlets are more likely to suffer from assaults and other violent crime.
