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In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) looked at 49 high-quality, peer-reviewed studies on the effects of changing the minimum drinking age law. Almost every study found that increasing the minimum drinking age to 21 saved lives with an average decrease in traffic fatalities of 16 percent. The studies also showed that lowering the minimum drinking age to 18 or 19 caused an average increase in crashes by 8 to 10 percent. Click here to see a PDF of the study. 

NHTSA’s [year] study, “Determine Why There Are Fewer Young Alcohol-Impaired Drivers” found that between 1982 and 1998, there were 61 percent fewer drinking drivers involved in fatal crashes under age 21 and a 56 percent decrease among 21-24 year olds. This is against a backdrop of a decrease of only 24 percent among 25-55 year olds. There were a number of safety improvements during this time including better roads and laws, and safer cars. But because the people most directly affected by the law had the greatest decreases, NHTSA concluded “unequivocally that MLDA 21 laws reduce youth drinking and driving, as measured by traffic crash involvements.”

The 2006 Monitoring the Future study shows a decline in alcohol consumption among American youth, though alcohol remains the nation’s No. 1 youth drug problem. After the passage of the 21 minimum drinking age law, the percentage of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders who drank alcohol in the past year decreased 38 percent, 23 percent, and 14 percent respectively.

In March 2007, the acting U.S. Surgeon General released his Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, whichproperly and methodically outlines the serious nature of underage drinking. He also provides a roadmap for communities and states to follow in order to greatly reduce the problems with underage drinking.

His recommendations include:

1. Increase enforcement of underage drinking laws
2. Properly educate parents to provide them with factual information about the dangers of adolescent alcohol use
3. Community members collaborate on partnerships and coalitions to implement effective prevention strategies
4. Having Universities exam their policies and practices to ensure they are sending a strong message that underage alcohol use is illegal
5. Decrease accessibility of alcohol to those under 21
6. Ensure the judicial system is properly enforcing laws
7. Decrease the amount of alcohol advertisement reaching a youth audience