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Some Organizations Currently in Support of the Raised MLDA of 21:
Courtesy of We Save Lives
We Save Lives
We Save Lives
Mission statement: “To support and promote solution driven policies and programs that save lives by changing dangerous driving choices through viral awareness, education, advocacy and partnerships”
MADD
MADD
Mission statement: “The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.”
James C. Fell, a public health researcher at the Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation, responds on behalf of MADD on why we should keep MLDA at 21, “More than 25,000 lives have been saved in the U.S. thanks to the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age. This law continues to prevent tragedies — decreasing crashes by an estimated 16 percent and keeping young people safer from many risks” (MADD).
Courtesy of the CDC
CDC
CDC
Stance on MLDA of 21: “A Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) of 21 saves lives and protects health” (CDC).
Some Organizations Currently in Opposition of the Raised MLDA of 21:
Courtesy of National Youth Rights Association
National Youth Rights Association
National Youth Rights Association
“In the United States, the current minimum age to legally purchase alcohol is 21, which makes it one of the highest in the world. Drinking is also one of the few areas where you can legally be discriminated against based on your age after reaching legal adulthood” (National Youth Rights Association).
Choose Responsibility
Choose Responsibility
Mission statement: “The main goal is to lower the the minimum drinking age by educating the public.”
Choose Responsibility established the Amethyst Initiative. An initiative made up of U.S. college presidents and chancellors who work to reconsider the MLDA.
Courtesy of the Amethyst Initiative
Amethyst Initiative
“Twenty-four years later, our experience as college and university presidents convinces us that…Twenty-one is not working A culture of dangerous, clandestine “binge-drinking”—often conducted off-campus—has developed” (Amethyst Initiative).
MLDA in USA Versus Other Countries
MLDA in USA Versus Other Countries
“Europe’s legal age to drink is 18, which is 3 years younger than the US. According to UNEWS, European teens are able to familiarize themselves with drinking at a young age because they lose the temptation. They say Europeans potentially become more responsible with their drinking. Many Americans contemplate whether or not Europe’s legal drinking age would be beneficial if copied” (Tran, 2021).
"In many European countries, the legal drinking age is 18 or lower, and minors are not as compelled to drink excessively because moderated drinking is part of the culture. Even though raising the drinking age in the U.S. caused a decline in traffic fatalities, the percentage of traffic fatalities in the U.S. is still higher than some European countries where the legal drinking age is less than 21" (Otte, 2012).
Current Students' Views
Current Students' Views
"A majority (though not an overwhelming majority) of students thought that a lower MLDA would result in lower drinking rates, getting drunk less often, and less drinking problems. The figure shows that most of the students who would like to see the MLDA lowered were frequent binge drinkers and that frequent binge drinkers are more likely than their lighter drinking peers to hold such an opinion" (Behav, 2010).
"Prevalence rates of underage students’ opinions about MLDA laws" Courtesy of PubMed
"Results show that the overwhelming majority of underage students thought about MLDA laws and how they differ from laws in Europe, and thought that the current MLDA is unfair and that the MLDA should be 18 or 19" (Behav, 2010).
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