21 IS THE LEGAL

DRINKING AGE

The Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, establishing 21 as the minimum legal purchase age.

Improving stats since 1984

Since this year, drinking among high school seniors has declined significantly.

DECLINE IN DRINKING

DECLINE IN BINGE DRINKING

DECLINE IN GETTING DRUNK AMONG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

DECLINE IN DRINKING RATE

...but there’s still work to be done.

Despite these improvements, too many teens still drink and self-reported drinking increases with age.

PROPORTIONAL DECREASE 12TH GRADERS' CONSUMPTION RATE

OF 12TH GRADERS REPORT HAVING BEEN DRUNK

Why did Congress pass the National Minimum Drinking Age Act?

History of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

After Prohibition, nearly all states adopted a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21. Between 1970 and 1975, however, 29 states lowered the MLDA to 18, 19, or 20, largely in response to the change in the voting age. Studies conducted at the time showed that youth traffic crashes increased as states lowered their MLDA. In addition, the “blood borders” between states with different MLDAs caught public attention after highly-publicized crashes in which youth below the legal drinking age would drive to an adjoining state with a lower MLDA, drink legally, and crash on their way home.

Advocacy for the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

Advocacy groups urged states to raise their MLDA to 21. Several did so in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but others did not. To encourage a national drinking age, Congress enacted the national MLDA. A review by the U.S. General Accounting Office, conducted in 1988, found that raising the drinking age reduced youth drinking, youth driving after drinking, and alcohol-related traffic accidents among youth.

Historic lows for underage drinking

Through community action and the work of many organizations within and aligned to the alcohol industry, underage drinking levels are at historic lows. Fewer American teens are consuming alcohol underage than ever before, more than 3 out of 5 have never consumed alcohol. In addition, 78% of 8th graders in the US have never consumed alcohol, and the number who are not drinking has increased 48% percentage points since 1991. (Monitoring the Future, 2021).

Progress in reducing underage drunk driving

There is significant progress being made in in underage drunk driving reduction too. Over the past 30 years drunk driving fatalities have declined 26% overall, and among those under 21 the number of fatalities has decreased 61%.

Is the legal drinking age still important?

Yes. Injuries from teen drinking are inevitable, and reducing teen access to alcohol is a national priority.

Use the campaign materials available below to help us keep alcohol out of kids’ hands.

Don’t serve teens.

IT’S UNSAFE. IT’S ILLEGAL. IT’S IRRESPONSIBLE.