Raising the Legal Drinking Age in Michigan and Maine

摘要

Previous research has shown that increased alcohol availability associated with reductions in legal minimum age for purchase of alcoholic beverages resulted in increased alcohol-related traffic crash involvement among young drivers. In the late 1970s, Michigan raised the drinking age from 18 to 21, and Maine from 18 to 20, providing natural experiments reducing alcohol availability. Effects of the raised drinking age on motor vehicle crash involvement were evaluated using a tri-level hierarchical multiple time-series design. Results revealed a significant 20% reduction in alcohol-related injury-producing crash involvement among 18-20-year-old Michigan drivers directly attributable to the higher drinking age; alcohol-related property damage crashes decreased 17% for this age group. Maine drivers age 18-19 experienced a 20% reduction in alcohol-related property damage crash involvement attributable to the raised drinking age. It is concluded that the legal minimum drinking age has a significant effect on alcohol-related motor vehicle crash involvement among young drivers. Implications of the findings for beverage alcohol availability theory and public policy concerning the prevention of alcohol-related problems are included.