In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the 21 minimum drinking age into law, saying, “This problem is bigger than the individual States. It's a grave national problem, and it touches all our lives. With the problem so clear-cut and the proven solution at hand, we have no misgiving about this judicious use of federal power. I'm convinced that it will help persuade State legislators to act in the national interest to save our children's lives, by raising the drinking age to 21 across the country.” 

Since that time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped 40 percent. And while some would argue that allowing 18-year-olds to drink would promote more responsible drinking, the statistics show just the opposite. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) looked at 49 high-quality, peer-reviewed studies of countries that changed their drinking age and found conclusively that increasing the drinking age to 21 decreases alcohol-involved crash fatalities by 16 percent, lowering the minimum drinking age increases fatalities by 10 percent. 

Yet, the former president of Middlebury College in Vermont is one of the strongest proponents for decreasing the minimum drinking age.  John McCardell, a man who has witnessed, firsthand, the effect underage drinking can have on college students, has been the main champion for a change in law.  Citing the need to curtail binge drinking, the former college head claims that lowering the drinking age will teach students responsibility about alcohol and alcohol consumption, thus reducing the binge drinking epidemic on college campuses.

Binge drinking is defined as five consecutive drinks for men and four consecutive drinks for women.  According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (2004), 43 percent of college students state they are binge drinkers.  Lowering the minimum age would only make alcohol more accessible to students at younger ages.  

New Zealand is a good example of this. In 1999, New Zealand lowered its drinking age from 20 to 18.  Not only did the alcohol-involved crash rate increase among 18 and 19 year olds, but also among 15 to 17 year olds. It would be easy to think that teaching young people to drink would increase responsible drinking habits, but what is easy isn’t what is true.  Most European countries with lower drinking ages have not only higher drinking rates, but higher binge drinking and intoxication rates.  Several of these countries, like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada, are considering increasing their drinking ages because the 21 minimum drinking age is so effective.

It would be easy to assume that 18 to 20 year olds could drink safely, but in truth, all underage drinking is unsafe drinking.  Brain research shows us that the brain continues to develop into the early twenties.  The part that controls reasoning and cognitive ability is the last to mature and thus the most vulnerable to damage.  The part of the brain responsible for new memories is noticeably smaller in young people who abuse alcohol.  Alcohol use in the teen years is also associated with decreased brain functioning, memory, movement, and attention – harmful changes that could become permanent.  These and many more reasons are why a host of experts, including the CDC, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, NHTSA, General Accounting Office, Institute of Medicine, Surgeon General, National Institutes of Health, and more, support the 21 minimum drinking age.

The solution to the binge drinking epidemic is not to lower the minimum drinking age but rather to highlight the problem and enforce the laws that already exist.  We need to educate parents and teens about the prevalence and dangers of underage drinking.  A 2003 landmark study on underage drinking by the Institute of Medicine shows us that many parents underestimate the use of alcohol by their children.  That report’s findings tell us that if we educate parents about the facts of underage alcohol use and its consequences, parents can play a key role in limiting underage drinking.

As Members of Congress, parents, and grandparents, it is our responsibility to America’s youth to share accurate information, to make positive decisions, and to enact laws that will safeguard their well-being.  Protecting and ensuring that the minimum drinking age remains at 21 years of age is one such way.  Keep our minimum drinking age at 21.

(A leading congressional advocate in the fight against underage drinking, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) won a major victory last year with the passage into law of her bill called “The Sober Truth On Preventing Underage Drinking Act.”  The STOP Act is the first comprehensive national legislation to address this public health crisis.  The STOP Act formally establishes an interagency committee to coordinate all federal underage drinking programs and research initiatives; makes permanent an Ad Council national media campaign directed at parents; provides grants to colleges and local communities to combat the problem; and authorizes federal funding for crucial research on its health effects on young people.  For her efforts, the congresswoman has been nationally honored by MADD, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and Students Against Destructive Decisions.) 
 

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