Many youth under age 21 still drink, despite the current legal drinking age. Doesn that prove that this policy is ineffective?
While some youth may choose to consume alcohol before age 21, studies show that they consume less and suffer fewer secondary effects such as alcohol-related injuries when the drinking age is 21.19 Studies also indicate that delaying onset of drinking will substantially reduce the risk of alcohol problems and dependence later on in life.18 Further, when the legal drinking age is 21, those under age drink less than when the drinking age is lower, and they continue to drink less through their 20s.17 “There is also some ‘trickle-down’ effect in that when youth get alcohol they often give it to even younger teens.”9 “When the legal age is 21, 19- and 20-year-olds can often obtain alcohol from their friends. When the drinking age was 18 and 19, 17- and even 16-year-olds were often able to get alcohol from their friends.
