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. Effects of Minimum Legal Drinking Age on Alcohol and Marijuana Use: Evidence from Toxicological Testing Data for Fatally Injured Drivers Aged 16 to 25 Years
    Keyes KM, Brady JE, Li G. Injury Epidemiology. 2(1), 1-10.
    Date: 2015
  2. Long-Term Effects of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws on Marijuana and Other Illicit Drug Use in Adulthood
    Krauss MJ, Cavazos-Rehg PA, Agrawal A, Bierut LJ, Grucza RA. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 149, 173-179.
    Date: 2015
  3. Effects of Lowering the Alcohol Minimum Purchasing Age on Weekend Hospitalized Assaults of Young Māori in New Zealand
    Kypri K, Davie G, McElduff P, Langley J, Connor J. Drug and Alcohol Review. 34(3), 299-303.
    Date: 2015
  4. Alcohol Policy Impact on Young Risky Drinkers and Their Support for Proposed Measures
    Lam T, Lenton SR, Burns L, Aiken A, Ogeil R, Gilmore WT, Allsop SJ. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 39(2), 129-134.
    Date: 2015
  5. How Are 2-Year US Colleges Addressing Student Alcohol Use and Related Problems?
    Lenk KM, Nelson TF, Erickson DJ, Toomey TL. Journal of College Student Development. 56(4), 380-385.
    Date: 2015
  6. “Social Stuff” and Institutional Micro-Processes: Alcohol Use by Students in Australian University Residential Colleges
    Leontini R, Schofield T, Lindsay J, Brown R, Hepworth J, Germov J. Contemporary Drug Problems. 42(3), 171-187.
    Date: 2015
  7. Did the 18 Drinking Age Promote High School Dropout? Implications for Current Policy
    Plunk AD, Agrawal A, Tate WF, Cavazos-Rehg P, Bierut LJ, Grucza RA. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 76(5), 680-689.
    Date: 2015
  8. A Comprehensive Examination of United States Laws Enacted to Reduce Alcohol-Related Crashes Among Underage Drivers
    Romano E, Scherer M, Fell J, Taylor E. Journal of Safety Research. 55, 213-221.
    Date: 2015
  9. Alcohol Sales to Underage Buyers in the Netherlands in 2011 and 2013
    Van Hoof JJ, Roodbeen RT, Krokké J, Gosselt JF, Schelleman-Offermans K. Journal of Adolescent Health. 56(4), 468-470.
    Date: 2015
  10. Impacts of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age on Motor Vehicle Collisions in Québec, 2000−2012
    Callaghan RCP, Gatley JMB, Sanches MM, Asbridge MP. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 47(6), 788-795.
    Date: 2014
  11. Long-Term Impact on Alcohol-Involved Crashes of Lowering the Minimum Purchase Age in New Zealand
    Huckle T, Parker K. American Journal of Public Health. 104(6), 1087-1091.
    Date: 2014
  12. Effects of Lowering the Minimum Alcohol Purchasing Age on Weekend Assaults Resulting in Hospitalization in New Zealand
    Kypri K, Davie G, McElduff P, Connor J, Langley J. American Journal of Public Health. 104(8), 1396-1401.
    Date: 2014
  13. Public, Official, and Industry Submissions on a Bill to Increase the Alcohol Minimum Purchasing Age: A Critical Analysis
    Kypri K, Wolfenden L, Hutchesson M, Langley J, Voas R. International Journal of Drug Policy. 25(4), 709-716.
    Date: 2014
  14. College Football Game Day Stadium Incidents: Policy and Environmental Effects on Alcohol-Related Ejections and Crime
    Menaker BE, Chaney BH. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. 6(2), 119-134.
    Date: 2014
  15. Preventing Adolescent Alcohol Use: Effects of a Two-Year Quasi-Experimental Community Intervention Intensifying Formal and Informal Control
    Schelleman-Offermans KPD, Knibbe RAPD, Kuntsche EPD. Journal of Adolescent Health. 54(3), 326-332.
    Date: 2014
  16. 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)
  17. 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)
  18. 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)
  19. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Public Health
    Carpenter C, Dobkin C. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 25(2), 133-156.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  20. 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)
Archives