The relationship of underage drinking laws to reductions in drinking drivers in fatal crashes in the United States

Abstract

This study reports on an effort to evaluate and interrelate the existence and strength of two core laws and 14 expanded laws designed to (a) control the sales of alcohol, (b) prevent possession and consumption of alcohol, and (c) prevent alcohol impaired driving by youth aged 20 and younger. Our first analysis determined if the enactment of the possession and purchase laws (the two core minimum legal drinking age laws) was associated with a reduction in the ratio of drinking to nondrinking drivers aged 20 and younger who were involved in fatal crashes controlling for as many variables as possible. The ANOVA results suggest that in the presence of numerous covariates, the possession and purchase laws account for an 11.2% (p=0.041) reduction in the ratio measure. Our second analysis determined whether the existence and strength of any of the 16 underage drinking laws was associated with a reduction in the percentage of drivers aged 20 and younger involved in fatal crashes who were drinking. In the regression analyses, making it illegal to use a false identification to purchase alcohol was significant. From state to state, a unit difference (increase) in the strength of the False ID Use law was associated with a 7.3% smaller outcome measure (p=0.034).

Influence of Family Factors and Supervised Alcohol Use on Adolescent Alcohol Use and Harms: Similarities Between Youth in Different Alcohol Policy Contexts

“…Such policies include setting the minimum legal age for possession and purchase of alcohol at 21 years and laws targeting retail and social access to alcohol by youth (Fell et al, 2008;Wagenaar et al, 2006), in addition to school district policies that promote abstinence and zero tolerance for underage drinking (Beyers et al, 2005). Recently, the U.S. surgeon general issued a call to action promoting a zero-tolerance position toward youth alcohol use that was characterized by abstinence messages, severe consequences for use, and the illegality of underage drinking (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007).…”

Edad mínima legal de consumo de alcohol en el contexto chileno

“…UU. 44 , y una valoración gruesa de su grado de implementación a nivel nacional en la actualidad. Edad mínima legal consumo de alcohol -J. Ramírez et al El consumo de alcohol en menores de 18 años en Chile es común.…”

Emerging Adulthood

“…A primary focus of these sociological and demographic viewpoints is on dangerous behaviors that are most prevalent during the years between adolescence and adulthood. In the United States, for example, risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, hookups and other casual sexual encounters, and dangerous and impaired driving peak between ages 18 and 25 (Bogle, 2008;Chou et al, 2005;Fell, Fisher, Voas, Blackman, & Tippetts, 2008). Availability of jobs, especially for this age group, has declined sharply since the turn of the 21st century-and difficulties finding work have lengthened the transition to adulthood for many young people (MacMillan, 2007).…”