If someone is old enough to vote and serve in the military, why aren’t they old enough to drink? While approximately 64 percent of countries have a drinking age of 18, the United States is one of only 20 nations that has a drinking age of 21, one of the highest globally. The drinking age in the U.S. has been the subject of much debate; between 2021 and 2023 alone, nine states introduced legislation to lower the legal age of alcohol purchase and consumption. These attempts are misguided, however. The drinking age should stay 21, and the U.S. must adopt a healthier culture around alcohol.
There are many valid reasons that the U.S. has its drinking age at 21. One of the biggest arguments is safety. Between 1970 and 1975, over half of the states lowered their minimum legal drinking age. Data shows that automotive crashes increased substantially among teenagers around the same time. There are many concerns having to do with alcohol’s neurological effects as well. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision-making, doesn’t finish developing until a person’s mid-20s. Drinking alcohol can disrupt the process of brain development for teens and young adults by altering communication pathways and acting as a nervous system depressant. Looking at the issue from this perspective, the higher drinking age isn’t random, but rather a means of protecting people.
The data also suggests that a higher drinking age limits the number of children and teens consuming alcohol. A 2001 study by the National Institutes of Health showed that the median age for first-time drinking in the U.S. was 13, while in 23 European countries that have a drinking age under 21, over half of the participants reported first-time drinking two years earlier. Furthermore, in Europe, about 37.4 percent of 15- to 16-year-olds reported binge-drinking at least once within the last month. This is a significantly higher number than U.S. young adults from the ages of 18 to 25, where about 26.7 percent reported binge-drinking within the last month. This suggests that earlier access to alcohol may contribute to excessive drinking at a younger age, which can have detrimental effects.
Some argue that the legal drinking age is too high because 18-year-olds can vote and join the military. While this is a strong rationale, the evidence presented shows that drinking causes many problems in adolescents. Lowering the drinking age increases the risk of future overconsumption of alcohol, interference of brain development, and teen drunk driving accidents. Ultimately, rather than lowering the age, the U.S. should focus on fostering a healthier culture surrounding alcohol consumption. The legal drinking age should not be a magic barrier to responsible behavior, but rather society needs to shift focus to their health rather than the substance itself.