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.  

Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws
Underage and College Alcohol Policies
  1. Commercial Availability of Alcohol to Young People: Results of Alcohol Purchase Attempts
    Forster JL, Murray DM, Wolfson M, Wagenaar AC. Preventive Medicine. 24(4), 342-347.
    Date: 1995 (archived)
  2. Young Teenagers and Access to Alcohol in a Swiss Canton: Evidence from Observational Testing and from a Telephone Survey
    Vaucher S, Rehm J, Benvenuti J, Müller R. Addiction. 90(12), 1619-1625.
    Date: 1995 (archived)
  3. Deterring Sales and Provision of Alcohol to Minors: A Study of Enforcement in 295 Counties in Four States
    Wagenaar AC, Wolfson M. Public Health Reports. 110, 419-427.
    Date: 1995 (archived)
  4. The Ability of Young People to Purchase Alcohol Without Age Identification in Northeastern Minnesota, United States
    Forster JL, McGovern PG, Wagenaar AC, Wolfson M, Perry CL, Anstine PS. Addiction. 89(6), 699-705.
    Date: 1994 (archived)
  5. Policing Underage Alcohol Sales
    Preusser DF, AF, W, Weinstein HB. Journal of Safety Research. 25(3), 127-133.
    Date: 1994 (archived)
  6. Effects of Minimum Drinking Age Laws on Alcohol Use, Related Behaviors and Traffic Crash Involvement Among American Youth: 1976-1987
    O’Malley PM, Wagenaar AC. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 52(5), 478-491.
    Date: 1991 (archived)
  7. Raising the Alcohol Purchase Age: Its Effects on Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes in Twenty-Six States
    DuMouchel W, Williams AF, Zador P. The Journal of Legal Studies. 16(1), 249-266.
    Date: 1987 (archived)
  8. Beer Taxes, the Legal Drinking Age, and Youth Motor Vehicle Fatalities
    Saffer H, Grossman M. The Journal of Legal Studies. 16(2), 351-374.
    Date: 1987 (archived)
  9. Drinking Age Laws and Highway Mortality Rates: Cause and Effect
    Saffer H, Grossman M. Economic Inquiry. 25(3), 403-417.
    Date: 1987 (archived)
  10. Youth, Alcohol and Relative Risk of Crash Involvement
    Mayhew DR, Donelson AC, Beirness DJ, Simpson HM. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 18(4), 273-287.
    Date: 1986 (archived)
  11. Raising the Legal Drinking Age in Maine: Impact on Traffic Accidents Among Young Drivers
    Wagenaar AC. International Journal of the Addictions. 18(3), 365-377.
    Date: 1983 (archived)
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