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CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Maintaining Current Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) Laws

CDC

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify an age below which the purchase or public consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal. In the United States, the age in all states is currently 21 years.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends maintaining current minimum legal drinking age laws based on strong evidence of their effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related crashes and associated injuries among 18- to 20-year-old drivers.

Results / Accomplishments

Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Thirty-three studies qualified for the systematic review.

• Most of the studies assessed the effects of changes in the MLDA from ages 18 to 21 or vice versa.
- Effects of raising the MLDA: crash-related outcomes decreased by median of 16% (14 studies; 1 study evaluating fatal crashes among 16-17 year olds was not included in the summary effect measures)
- Effects of lowering the MLDA: crash-related outcomes increased by median of 10% (9 studies)
- Estimated effect of raising the MLDA by 3 years (from 18 to 21) from regression-based studies: crash-related outcomes decreased by a median of 12% (9 studies)
• Effects were stable over follow-up times ranging from 7 to 108 months.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Community / Governance
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
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Target Audience
Adults

Health Data

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