Facts Show The 21-Year-Old Minimum Drinking Age Saves Lives

Responding to a report from college leaders who support a national debate to lower the legal drinking age to 18, State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo today said that facts are clear on why lowering the age would endanger lives.

Following the report by the Amethyst Initiative, a group of college leaders who are advocating for a debate on the minimum18-year-old legal drinking age, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said she welcomes the debate, but stresses the debate should be based in fact. She will be sending out a letter to all New York State college presidents on the importance of the 21-year-old minimum drinking age.

"Not only is underage drinking a serious public health and safety issue for the citizens of New York state, but also for our nation at-large," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "The facts regarding the perils of underage alcohol consumption clearly affirm that the 21 drinking age law is saving lives."

An estimated 25,000 lives have been saved as a result of the enactment of the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the MLDA has reduced traffic fatalities involving young drivers 18 to 20 years old by 13 percent and saved approximately 900 lives per year.

Since the legal drinking age in New York state rose to age 21 in 1985, there have been many positive impacts. According to OASAS research, in the last twelve years there has been a 70 percent decrease in alcohol purchases for 19 and 20 year olds, and use among youth ages 18-20 dropped by 59 percent. Additionally, during this same period, drinking driving rates by 19 and 20 year olds were reduced by half.

Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo continued, "We must stand strong in the commitment to protect our youth. The research shows that a person's brain continues to mature well into his or her early to mid-twenties and alcohol can seriously damage and disrupt the growth process. We also know that underage youth who consume alcohol are more likely to develop a problem with alcohol in their adult years."

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism cites that each year approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result from homicides, 300 from suicides as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns and drownings.

According to a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, underage drinking cost United States citizens $60.3 billion in 2006. The costs to New York State for medical care, work loss and pain and suffering associated with the multiple problems resulting from the use of alcohol by youth in 2005 was $3.2 billion.

With a new school year about to begin, OASAS also released a new report in its Addiction Medicine FYI Series. The latest FYI was developed to inform parents, students and providers about the dangers of underage drinking as well as create awareness regarding the dangerous and often deadly social activity - binge-drinking - commonly practiced by thousands of young people on college campuses and beyond throughout this nation.

To address the dangers of underage drinking in New York, OASAS currently is working with parents, schools and law enforcement in more than 50 community mobilization coalitions statewide to provide best evidence-based prevention services, and help change norms, attitudes and behaviors regarding underage drinking. In partnership with many colleges and universities, OASAS developed a comprehensive media and awareness campaign developed specifically to address alcohol use in the college population. http://www.oasas.state.ny.us/ud/OASAS_TOOLKIT_CE/index.htm

OASAS also is supportive of underage drinking prevention training for law enforcement; compliance checks; party patrols and responsible beverage server training.

Evidence-based prevention strategies are a key component of the OASAS mission to improve the lives of New Yorkers by leading a premier system of addiction services through prevention, treatment, recovery.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services programs, with 1,550 prevention and treatment providers which serve 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day. More than 250 of its programs are dedicated to prevention.

For information or assistance with an alcohol or substance abuse problem in New York State, call the addictions helpline at 1-800-522-5353 or go to the OASAS Web Site at www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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