Drinking
... to do so into their early twenties. In addition to this, over fifty different studies have shown a correlation between a higher drinking age and lower alcohol-related fatalities of young people (The Minimum Legal Drinking Age). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities decreased 43% for drivers under twenty-one in the years following the passage of the act. This compares with only a 28% decrease for the population as a whole (Drinking Age Limits). This amounts to thousands of lives being saved as a result of this measure. Opponents of a higher minimum legal drinking age often argue that because many minors have access to alcoholic beverages and partake thereof, the policy is ineffective. While it is true that many minors do drink and purchase alcohol, studies have shown that because of the higher drinking age, they drink less while under twenty-one and continue to drink less in their early twenties. Another argument made is that the United States is the only westernized country with a minimum drinking age of twenty-one. While it is true that the vast majority of European countries has a lower drinking age and seems to suffer no ill effects, the atmosphere in Europe is far different from that of America’s. In Europe, youths must wait longer to get their driver’s license, are less likely to own a car, and more inclined to use public transportation....