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

A Comprehensive Examination of United States Laws Enacted to Reduce Alcohol-Related Crashes Among Underage Drivers

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Selected State Policies and Associations with Alcohol Use Behaviors and Risky Driving Behaviors Among Youth: Findings from Monitoring the Future Study

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Underage Drinking: A Review of Trends and Prevention Strategies

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The Utility of Including the Strengths of Underage Drinking Laws in Determining Their Effect on Outcomes

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  1. Student Perceptions of a New Campus Alcohol Policy: Linking Deterrence and Blame Attribution
    Kelley MS. Journal of Drug Issues. 47(3), 411-432.
    Date: 2017
  2. Drinking Cultures in University Residential Colleges: An Australian Case Study of the Role of Alcohol Policy, Management, and Organizational Processes
    Leontini R, Schofield T, Brown R, Hepworth J. Contemporary Drug Problems. 44(1), 32.
    Date: 2017
  3. Selected State Policies and Associations with Alcohol Use Behaviors and Risky Driving Behaviors Among Youth: Findings from Monitoring the Future Study
    Cavazos-Rehg PA, Housten AJ, Krauss MJ, Sowles SJ, Spitznagel EL, Chaloupka FJ, Bierut LJ. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 40(5), 1030-1036.
    Date: 2016
  4. Ethanol Values During College Football Season: University Policy Change and Emergency Department Blood Ethanol Values from 2006 Through 2014
    Fierro-Fine AC, Harland K, House HR, Krasowski MD. Lab Medicine. 47(4), 300-305.
    Date: 2016
  5. Underage Drinking: A Review of Trends and Prevention Strategies
    Harding FM HR, Klitzner M, Mosher JF, Brown J, Vincent RM, Dahl E, Cannon CL. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 4 Suppl 2, 148-157.
    Date: 2016
  6. Drinking Location and Pregaming As Predictors of Alcohol Intoxication Among Mandated College Students
    Miller MB, Borsari B, Fernandez AC, Yurasek AM, John TPH. Substance Use & Misuse. 51(8), 983-992.
    Date: 2016
  7. Alcohol and Tobacco Sales to Underage Buyers in Dutch Supermarkets: Can the Use of Age Verification Systems Increase Seller's Compliance?
    Roodbeen RTJ, Schelleman-Offermans K, Lemmens PHHM. Journal of Adolescent Health. 58(6), 672-678.
    Date: 2016
  8. An Empirical Investigation of the Influence of Alcohol Policy and Gender on University Students' Drinking Behavior
    Sharma B, Reinhard K. The Journal of New Business Ideas & Trends. 14(1), 1-13.
    Date: 2016
  9. Local Support for Alcohol Control Policies and Perceptions of Neighborhood Issues in Two College Communities
    Fairlie, AM, DeJong, W and Wood, MD. Substance Abuse. 36(3), 289-296.
    Date: 2015
  10. The Utility of Including the Strengths of Underage Drinking Laws in Determining Their Effect on Outcomes
    Fell JC, Scherer M, Voas R. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 39(8), 1528-1537.
    Date: 2015
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. “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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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)
  19. 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)
  20. Alcohol Policy Support Among Mandated College Students
    Garey L, Prince MA, Carey KB. Addictive Behaviors. 36(10), 1015- 1018.
    Date: 2011 (archived)
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