Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21?

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My opponents will argue that “Eighteen, nineteen- and twenty-year-olds are drinking anyway. If we legalize it, at least they’ll be drinking in a controlled setting.”

Keep in mind that a bar is not necessarily a “safe” or “controlled” environment to drink. A recent study showed that 76 percent of bars sold alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons.  Research shows that about half of drivers arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or killed as drinking drivers in traffic crashes did their drinking at licensed establishments.

Instead of allowing 18-20 year olds to drink in bars, we should be doing more to prevent their access to alcohol via commercial establishments. According to a study by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in July 2005, teen access to alcohol through illegal purchases at alcohol retail establishments across the country is widespread. Previous research has shown that underage buyers were successful in purchasing beer without age identification in 50 percent of the bars visited.
   
The ease with which young people acquire alcohol—three-quarters of 8th graders say that it is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get—indicates that more must be done. Current laws against furnishing and sales to minors need better enforcement and stiff penalties to deter violations. Better education and prevention-oriented laws are needed to reduce the commercial pressures on kids to drink.
   
Imagine how many lives we might save if the MLDA 21 law was enforced at levels similar to impaired-driving enforcement. We should continue to support this law and ensure that it is enforced.