- Joined
- May 6, 2016
- Messages
- 1,908
- Reaction score
- 489
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
The drinking age used to vary from state to state until the national minimum drinking age act was passed by congress. Essentially, it threatened to decrease highway funds by 10% to states which did not raise the minimum age to purchase and publicly possess alcohol to 21 by 1989. Unsurprisingly, every state which did not already have the minimum age set to 21 raised it. This was done to combat drunk driving in part as 18-20 year olds sometimes drove across state lines to drink at a state where the drinking age was lower then would drive back, causing car accidents. And while it is true that the act did lower drunk driving, it is also true that drunk driving has gone down for all age groups since the 90s
https://www.statista.com/chart/5504/the-worst-countries-in-the-world-for-drunk-driving/
MADD - History of Drunk Driving
Also, it is worth noting that despite a lower drinking age, both Germany and the UK have lower rates of drunk driving than the US.
https://www.statista.com/chart/5504/the-worst-countries-in-the-world-for-drunk-driving/
MADD - History of Drunk Driving
Also, it is worth noting that despite a lower drinking age, both Germany and the UK have lower rates of drunk driving than the US.