Age Restriction

Minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws of 21 in the U.S. refer to a minimum age required to purchase alcohol in a state and measures aimed at preventing people under the minimum age from accessing alcohol. MLDA laws have significantly reduced drinking and drinking-related problems among adolescents and young adults, including education drop-out rates, car crashes, crime, injuries, assaults and suicides. There is also evidence that the relaxation of age restrictions contributes to heavier use later in life.  

  1. State Panel Estimates of the Effects of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age on Alcohol Consumption, 1950-2002
    Subbaraman MS, Kerr WC. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 37(Suppl. 1), E291-E296.
    Date: 2013 (archived)
  2. Evaluating Self-Checkout Lanes as a Potential Source of Alcoholic Beverages for Minors
    Clapp JD, Martell B, Woodruff S, Reed MB. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 73(5), 713-717.
    Date: 2012 (archived)
  3. The Legacy of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Law Changes: Long-Term Effects on Suicide and Homicide Deaths Among Women
    Grucza RA, Hipp PR, Norberg KE, Rundell L, Evanoff A, Cavazos-Rehg P, Bierut LJ. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 36(2), 377-384.
    Date: 2012 (archived)
  4. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Public Health
    Carpenter C, Dobkin C. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 25(2), 133-156.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  5. Universal School-Based Prevention Programs for Alcohol Misuse in Young People (Review)
    Foxcroft DR, Tsertsvadze A. The Cochrane Library, 5, 122. [Accessed: 2012-07-27. Archived By Webcite® At Http: //Www.Webcitation. Org/69Tpm7Dkv]. .
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  6. Turning 21 and the Associated Changes in Drinking and Driving After Among College Students
    Fromme K, Wetherill RR, Neal DJ. Journal of American College Health. 59(1), 21-27.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  7. Alcohol Policy Support Among Mandated College Students
    Garey L, Prince MA, Carey KB. Addictive Behaviors. 36(10), 1015- 1018.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  8. Alcohol Consumption Associated with Collegiate American Football Pre-Game Festivities
    Merlo LJ, Ahmedani BK, Barondess DA, Bohnert KM, Gold MS. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 116(1-3), 242-245.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  9. Fake ID Ownership in a United States Sample of Incoming First-Year College Students
    Nguyen N, Walters ST, Rinker DV, Wyatt TM, DeJong W. Addictive Behaviors. 36(7), 759-761.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  10. Heavy Episodic Drinking on College Campuses: Does Changing the Legal Drinking Age Make a Difference?
    Rasul JW, Rommel RG, Jacquez GM, Fitzpatrick BG, Ackleh AS, Simonsen N, . Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 72(1), 15-23.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  11. The Utility of Keg Registration Laws: A Cross- Sectional Study
    Ringwalt CL, Paschall MJ. Journal of Adolescent Health. 48, 106-108.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  12. Alcohol Prevention on College Campuses: The Moderating Effect of the Alcohol Environment on the Effectiveness of Social Norms Marketing Campaigns
    Scribner RA, Theall KP, Mason K, Simonsen N, Schneider SK, Towvim LG, . Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 72(2), 232-239.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  13. The Impact of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws on Alcohol Consumption, Smoking, and Marijuana Use: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design Using Exact Date of Birth
    Yörük BK, Yörük CE. Journal of Health Economics. 30(4), 740-752.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  14. Alcohol Policy, Social Context, and Infant Health: The Impact of Minimum Legal Drinking Age
    Zhang N, Caine E. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 8(9), 3796-3809.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  15. The Drinking Age, Alcohol Consumption, and Crime
    Carpenter C, Dobkin C. [Accessed: 2012-07-18. Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69FtD6Dop]. .
    Date: 2010 (archived)
  16. Magnitude and Prevention of College Drinking Related Problems
    Hingson RW. Alcohol Research and Health. 33(1-2), 45-54.
    Date: 2010 (archived)
  17. Community Norms, Enforcement of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws, Personal Beliefs and Underage Drinking: An Explanatory Model
    Lipperman-Kreda S, Grube JW, Paschall MJ. Journal of Community Health. 35(3), 249-257.
    Date: 2010 (archived)
  18. The Fatal Toll of Driving to Drink: The Effect of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Evasion on Traffic Fatalities
    Lovenheim MF, Slemrod J. Journal of Health Economics. 29(1), 62-77.
    Date: 2010 (archived)
  19. Methods of “Fake ID” Obtainment and Use in Underage College Students
    Martinez JA, Sher KJ. Addictive Behaviors. 35(7), 738-740.
    Date: 2010 (archived)
  20. The Effects of Minimum Legal Drinking Age 21 Laws on Alcohol-Related Driving in the United States
    McCartt AT, Hellinga LA, Kirley BB. Journal of Safety Research. 41(2), 173-181.
    Date: 2010 (archived)
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