Data support keeping drinking age at 21

To inform the debate on the impact of the minimum legal drinking age law (MLDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) compiled an overview of research and findings indicated that the MLDA law had positive effects on health and safety. It states:

Solving the problem of underage drinking will require a broad-based, long-term commitment. As we move forward, we need to pay attention to what history and research have taught us and build on this knowledge base including what we know about the relationship between minimum legal drinking age laws and underage drinking and is consequences.

Recently, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation compiled a brief that offers additional information about the positive effects of the law. It states:

There is no evidence that lowering the MLDA will reduce the underage drinking problem. Conversely, there is strong evidence that lowering the drinking age will increase youthful alcohol consumption and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities.

60 Minutes story about drinking age

This Sunday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m., 60 Minutes (CBS) will air a segment about "The Debate on Lowering the Drinking Age".

MADD has a good website about why the drinking age should stay 21.

In September, on behalf of the coalition, I submitted an opinion piece to The Seattle Times that was published in its online version.

If, as a country, we expand this debate about the drinking age, I encourage everyone who participates to be respectful of differing opinions and to ask ourselves what is best for our children and our communities. Remember that many prevention programs have been proved to reduce underage drinking rates, including among 18-21 year-olds and on college campuses.

BBC reports on underage drinking in Europe

Here are more BBC reports about youth alcohol abuse in Europe:

Vodka, homework, and me is a documentary that follows an 11 year old and a 15 year old as they tried to give up drinking. According to the story, Britain has the fourth highest levels of underage drinking in Europe. In the North West area of England, 90% of 15-16 year olds drink alcohol.

Are Europe's teenagers drinking explores attitudes toward underage drinking across Europe.

Call to raise drinking age to 21 is just about that . . . a debate in the UK about their legal drinking age.

Fears over rise in child drinking discusses how excessive drinking by young people has resulted in a 20% rise in hospital admissions in England over the past five years.