Most countries in the world have established a minimum legal drinking age. Legal drinking ages are implemented to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and also to contribute to better overall health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States has a Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) of 21 everywhere except Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The MLDA in each of those places is 18.
Canada’s MLDA was 20 or 21 in the 1970s, and then lowered to either 18 or 19 to align more closely with the age of maturity. However, increased alcohol consumption by teens prompted certain provinces to increase the age to 19. The MLDA in Canada remains 19 for all provinces and territories, with the exception of Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, where the MLDA is 18. Elsewhere around the world the average age to purchase alcohol is 18, although not every country restricts the age at which alcohol can be consumed.
Health experts warn that underage drinking is a major health concern. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth and can lead to enormous safety and health risks. Teens who drink with frequency can set themselves up for a host of negative outcomes:
- Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the functions of the central nervous system and can actually block some messages from reaching the brain. That can alter a person’s perceptions, emotions and movement, says Nemours TeensHealth.
- Youth who drink may have higher rates of absences or lower grades in school.
- Alcohol usage over time can lead to social problems, such as fighting or lack of participation in youth activities.
- Consuming too much alcohol may lead teens to experience physical issues like hangovers.
- The CDC says alcohol can disrupt normal growth or sexual development.
- The CDC indicates frequent alcohol use among teens can contribute to increased risk of suicide and homicide.
- Underage binge drinking is associated with a higher risk of being the victim or perpetrator of interpersonal violence, which includes physical or sexual assault, according to a study published in 2019 in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
- The brain keeps developing into one’s 20s. Alcohol can alter development, potentially affecting the brain’s structure and function.
- Research shows that those who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder later in life. · Alcohol use can lower inhibitions, which can cause teens to make poor and risky decisions, like engaging in illegal activity or unprotected sexual relations.
Drinking at an early age and doing so frequently during the teenage years can set individuals on a course for health, developmental and even legal repercussions.
