Why does the US have a high drinking age?

Most states set their drinking age to 21 but some set it lower. 1984-2014: National drinking age raised to 21: In response to the drunk driving epidemic of the 1970s, President Ronald Reagan passed the Minimum Drinking Age Act in July 1984, a law that mandated states increase the drinking age to 21.

Does the US have the highest drinking age?

Of the 190 countries, 61\% have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old. The United States and 11 other countries have an MLDA of 21 years old, the highest MLDA of all the countries where it is legal to drink (although some areas of India have drinking ages as high as 25 and 30 years old).

Why is the drinking age 18 in the US?

From 1969 to 1976, some 30 states lowered their purchase ages, generally to 18. This was primarily because the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1971 with the passing into law of the 26th amendment. Many states started to lower their minimum drinking age in response, most of this occurring in 1972 or 1973.

Why the drinking age should not be lowered to 18?

The drinking age shouldn’t be lowered because of three very real risks: drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, and violent and/or destructive behavior. Above: Every 12 minutes, another person dies in a car accident. Drunk driving is a blight on our civilization. After age 25, the drunk driving rates decrease.

Why drinking age should not be lowered?

According to the CDC, lowering the drinking age could impair the brain’s development causing depression, decreased motor skills, or memory loss. One can argue that the earlier a person starts to drink, the more likely they are prone to developing alcohol related problems in life.

Why did the drinking age change from 18 to 21?

Unsurprisingly, due to the act, all states raised their minimum drinking ages to 21 by 1988 (although 12 states never had to change the minimum). Many states had lowered the age to 18 or 19 using the logic that if a person was old enough to be drafted into the military and vote, then he or she should be allowed to drink alcohol as well.

Is the high drinking age making teenagers drink more?

Though fewer teenagers drink alcohol today than in previous years, those who are drinking are consuming more alcohol. The high drinking age is pushing adolescent drinking further behind closed doors and out of the supervision of parents and college administrators who could be teaching them safer and healthier drinking habits.

What is the legal drinking age in the United States?

The MLDA in the United States is 21 years. However, prior to the enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, the legal age when alcohol could be purchased varied from state to state.1.

Why is underage drinking a public health problem?

Drinking by those under the age 21 is a public health problem. Excessive drinking contributes to more than 4,300 deaths among people below the age of 21 in the U.S. each year.10 Underage drinking cost the U.S. economy $24 billion in 2010.11