The Effect of Legal Drinking Age on Fatal Injuries of Adolescents and Young Adults

This study examined the effect of legal drinking age on fatal injuries in Americans aged 15-24 between 1979-84. A higher legal drinking age was associated with reduced death rates for motor vehicle drivers, pedestrians, unintentional injuries excluding motor vehicle injuries, & suicide. Results suggest that the net benefit of a drinking age of 21 is found not only among motor vehicle drivers, but among other categories of violent death as well. (20 refs.)