Case Closed: Research Evidence on the Positive Public Health Impact of the Age 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age in the United States

• DOI: 10.15288/jsads.2014.s17.108
• Publication Date: 2015-03-05T10:06:25Z
• Authors: William DeJong; Jason Blanchette
• Keywords: Homicide

Objective: In 2006, the nonprofit organization Choose Responsibility called for repealing 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which had led all 50 states to establish a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 years, and allowing lower their MLDA 18 years. Two years later, assembled small group college university presidents (the Amethyst Initiative) call publicly critical reexamination law. Public health traffic safety experts responded these efforts by generating new research on MLDA, thus warranting an updated review literature. Method: This focuses primarily published since when began its public relations campaign MLDA. Results: Recent has reinforced position that current law served nation well reducing alcohol-related crashes alcohol consumption among youths, while also protecting drinkers from long-term negative outcomes they might experience in adulthood, including other drug dependence, adverse birth outcomes, suicide homicide. Conclusions: The saves lives is unlikely be overturned. College leaders need put into effect workable policies, stricter enforcement, evidence-based prevention have been demonstrated reduce underage problems campus are being applied successfully at prominent academic institutions