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History of the 21-Law

THE BIG DEAL ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING:

Every year, underage drinking claims the lives of about 5000 youth. According to the Surgeon General's 2007 Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, Alcohol is the No. 1 Youth Drug Problem. More youth (under 21) abuse alcohol than all other illegal drugs combined. The physical consequences of underage alcohol use range from medical problems to death by alcohol poisoning. Alcohol plays a significant role in risky sexual behavior, physical and sexual assaults, various types of injuries, and suicide.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE 21-MINIMUM DRINKING AGE:

For almost 40 years, most states voluntarily set their minimum drinking age law at 21. At the height of the Vietnam War in the early 1970s, 29 states began lowering their drinking age to more closely align with the newly reduced military enlistment and voting age. In 1983, the evidence became apparent that a decrease in the drinking age had overwhelmingly resulted in increased alcohol-related fatalities and injuries amongst 16-20 year olds. So, in 1984, the National 21-Minimum Drinking Age (MDA) became law.

MADD, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; the General Accounting Office; the Institute of Medicine; the Surgeon General; the National Institute of Health; the American Medical Association; the National Transportation and Safety Board; and many other state and federal agencies are strongly in favor of the 21-MDAL due to the overwhelming amount of evidence that 21 SAVES LIVES.

Following the MDAL, alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving 16-20 year olds dropped, while unfortunately all other traffic fatalities increased (1983-1989). The 21 MDA reduced underage drinking. When we had different age states, those under 21 in states with lower drinking ages drank significantly more, and were drunk more often than students in states with a drinking age of 21. New research shows alcohol is especially harmful to the teen brain which does not quit developing until the early to mid 20s.

MADD strongly believes that through increased enforcement, better control of access of alcohol to minors, and education, 21-SAVES-LIVES!

A HEALTHY BODY:

Alcohol is the No. 1 drug of choice for American youth and kills more youth (5,000 youth each year) than all other illicit drugs combined.

Underage drinking damages the developing brain, heart, and liver. Parts of teen drinkers' brains can be up to 10 percent smaller than those of non-drinkers.

An image of a brain of a 15 year old comparing a non-drinker to a drinker

Teens who begin drinking before 15 are 4x more likely to become alcohol dependent as adults.

The depressant effects of alcohol lead to reduced inhibitions and reaction times, and often result in coma and death. Injuries often result from bad decisions like riding in a car with drunk driver; getting into a fight; and engaging in unwanted sexual activity. 95% of the violent crimes on college campuses are alcohol-related. The majority of rapes on college campuses (90%) involve alcohol.