The Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) has been a controversial issue ever since the 1850's. The reason I chose to research this topic was to discover the pros and cons of lowering the legal drinking age to 18. Many people I know are very interested in such a change, but what the facts stated in my research may change their opinions slightly. In this report I will discuss the facts and fiction of this debate, and both sides of the argument to lower or even raise the MLDA.
Following the end of Prohibition, each State developed its own set of policies to regulate the distribution, sale, and consumption of alcohol. In addition to the MLDA, examples of other alcohol control policies include excise taxes, restrictions on hours and days of sales, and server training. "The law's goal, of course, was to make young people happier, healthier, and safer." (Smith, 1999) Many of these other alcohol policies have only recently been evaluated. …
