Lowering legal drinking age increases teens'car crash risk

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 30 Nov 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Since New Zealand lowered the legal drinking age from 20 to 18, the country has seen an increase in traffic crash injuries among 15-to-19-year-olds.

Researchers analyzed traffic crash data before and after the 1999 law change and found a 12 percent increase in injuries for 18-to-19-year-olds and a 14 percent increase among 15-to-17-year-olds.

The study's authors pointed out that vehicle crashes were only "part of the total picture of alcohol-related harm among young people. Other effects attributed to reducing the drinking age observed in other countries include increases in non-injury hospitalizations, suicide, and juvenile crime."

The authors strongly encouraged lawmakers to consider raising the legal drinking age as well as implementing such strategies as limiting liquor outlets' operating hours and increasing alcohol taxes. [From: "Traffic crash injuries among 15-19 year-olds and the Minimum Purchasing Age for Alcohol in New Zealand."]

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