National Minimum Drinking Age Act - Relevant Statistics

Relevant Statistics

The following statistics are examples of the kinds of findings which led to the passing of the National Minimum Legal Drinking Act, and the increase in the MLDA for many states:

• 67% of nighttime motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol consumption.
• A 17% increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents was observed for drivers age 18-20 when the minimum legal drinking age was set to 18; Similarly, an 11% increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents was observed for drivers age 21-24. Researchers observed a 12.2% increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents when drivers reached the age of 21.
• As self-reported by students age 18-20, a minimum legal drinking age of 18 increased heavy episodic drinking by 3.4% and increased instances of drinking in the past month by 17.4%.
• A survey conducted among alcohol-consuming college students revealed that 32% of heavy drinkers were underage.
• A 10% increase in the number of suicides among 18-20 year olds was observed when the minimum legal drinking age was set to 18. In general, suicide increased by 20.3% when individuals turned 21.
• There was a 1% increase in the number of emergency room visits when individuals turned 21, and a 3% increase in the number of hospital stays for the same age group.
• In 2006, the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities was 13,990. This was an increase of 2.8% since 2005, and represents the largest number of motor vehicle fatalities in a single year since 1992.