Should we reduce the Minimum Legal Drinking Age to 18?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that through 2002, the increase in the minimum legal drinking age has saved 21,887 lives in the 50 states. (Kindelberger, J. (2005). Calculating lives saved due to minimum drinking age laws. Traffic Safety Facts: Research Notes. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809860.PDF)

NHTSA estimates that the current MLDA will continue to save 1,000 lives each year. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2001). Alcohol and highway safety 2001: A review of the state of knowledge. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/AlcoholHighway/)

While alcohol was involved in 60 percent of U.S. vehicular fatalities in 1982, the rate in 2005 stood at 39 percent. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). (2007). Total traffic fatalities vs. alcohol related traffic fatalities – 1982-2005.)