Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

            In the 1980s a campaign was led by Mothers Against Drunk Driving to raise the legal drinking age to twenty-one. The main argument presented by MADD was that raising the legal age for alcohol purchase and consumption to twenty-one would greatly help reduce the number of alcohol related automobile accidents. The rate of alcohol involvement in car accidents fell gradually until about 1997, and has started to gradually rise once again. Obviously the age restriction for the purchase and consumption of alcohol is not preventing minors from consuming alcohol or driving while under the influence of alcohol.

            If other societies throughout the world with lower or no minimum drinking age are examined, substance abuse of alcohol is a much smaller problem. In other societies alcohol is viewed as a completely different substance than in the United States. Many other countries consume alcohol with meals, or drink socially. In the United States many people view alcohol as a substance to help them alleviate their stress and life troubles through becoming intoxicated, or use alcohol at parties to become inebriated finding it easier to interact with other people. Alcohol in the United States is used for the wrong purposes. In Europe for instance, many countries have a minimum age of sixteen for consumption and purchase of alcohol. Many European countries have no legal age for the consumption of alcohol in the home. Alcohol is introduced at a much younger age and responsible drinking habits are taught. In most other societies alcohol is consumed with a meal, or in moderation, versus the binge drinking that many Americans like to use alcohol for. Alcohol is encountered on a daily basis in almost any country. How the alcohol is viewed, and the purposes that it is used for play a major role in responsible drinking.

As proven in the above picture, a majority of problem drinkers fall between the ages of 21 and 45. This age group actually more than doubles the 16-20 age group. Where is the problem???