Age 21 "Drinking Laws"

Background

Age 21 laws have saved an estimated 13,968 lives and over $30 billion in economic costs since
1975.

Age 21 laws saved an estimated 816 lives and $1.8 billion in economic costs in 1993 alone.

There was no cost to the States to implement or enforce these laws. States were already
enforcing a minimum drinking age although, in most cases, the minimum age was lower
(typically age 18).

91.79% of Americans want the 21-year-old drinking age to be strictly enforced. (Advocates for
Highway and Auto Safety)

Legislative History

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was signed into law on July 17, 1984 by President
Reagan. The Act strongly encourages States to have laws prohibiting the "purchase and public
possession" of alcoholic beverages by anyone under 21 years of age by withholding a portion
of Federal-aid highway funds from states without such laws.

On March 26, 1986, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a joint final rule implementing the statute.

On July 1, 1984, only 18 states had Age 21 laws.

All states and the District of Columbia now have Age 21 laws.

Legislative Effectiveness

The estimated number of lives saved by minimum drinking age laws between 1975 and 1984 is
estimated to be about 5,530. Lives saved between 1985 and 1993 (since the Federal law was
passed) are estimated to be about 8,438.

A Government Accounting Office (GAO) study in 1987 concluded that raising the drinking age
reduced alcohol-related crashes and probably reduced alcohol consumption. It also concluded
that when the drinking age was lowered, crashes increased.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Feb. 1995