21 岁最低法定饮酒年龄法案对美国与酒精相关的驾车行为的影响。

The effects of minimum legal drinking age 21 laws on alcohol-related driving in the United States.

机构信息

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA, United States.

出版信息

J Safety Res. 2010 Apr;41(2):173-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2010.01.002. Epub 2010 Mar 9.

DOI:10.1016/j.jsr.2010.01.002

PMID:20497803

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related crashes among people younger than 21 in the United States and to review evidence on the effects of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws.

METHODS

Trends in alcohol-related crashes and alcohol consumption among young people were examined, and studies on the effects of lowering and raising the drinking age were reviewed.

RESULTS

MLDA laws underwent many changes during the 20th century in the United States. Since July 1988, the MLDA has been 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Surveys tracking alcohol consumption among high school students and young adults found that drinking declined since the late 1970 s, and most of the decline occurred by the early 1990 s. These were the years when states were establishing, or reinstating, a MLDA-21. Among fatally injured drivers ages 16-20, the percentage with positive BACs declined from 61% in 1982 to 31% in 1995, a bigger decline than for older age groups; declines occurred among the ages directly affected by raising MLDAs (ages 18-20) and among young teenagers not directly affected (ages 16-17). Almost all studies designed specifically to gauge the effects of drinking age changes show MLDAs of 21 reduce drinking, problematic drinking, drinking and driving, and alcohol-related crashes among young people. Yet many underage people still drink, many drink and drive, and alcohol remains an important risk factor in serious crashes of young drivers, especially as they progress through the teenage years. Stepped-up enforcement of MLDA and drinking and driving laws can reduce underage drinking. Recent efforts to lower MLDAs to 18 and issue licenses to drink upon completion of alcohol education have gained local and national media attention. There is no evidence that alcohol education can even partially replace the effect of MLDA-21.

CONCLUSIONS

The cause and effect relationship between MLDAs of 21 and reductions in highway crashes is clear. Initiatives to lower the drinking age to 18 ignore the demonstrated public health benefits of MLDAs of 21.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

Lowering the drinking age to 18 will increase highway crash deaths among young people.

摘要

目的

考察美国 21 岁以下人群的饮酒量和与酒精相关的车祸趋势，并综述最低法定饮酒年龄（MLDA）法的效果。

方法

考察年轻人与酒精相关的车祸和饮酒趋势，并综述降低和提高饮酒年龄的效果。

结果

20 世纪，美国的 MLDA 发生了多次变化。自 1988 年 7 月以来，50 个州和哥伦比亚特区的 MLDA 均为 21 岁。跟踪高中生和年轻人饮酒情况的调查发现，自 20 世纪 70 年代末以来，饮酒量下降，大部分下降发生在 90 年代初。这些年份是各州确立或恢复 21 岁 MLDA 的时期。在 16-20 岁的致命性受伤司机中，BAC 呈阳性的比例从 1982 年的 61%下降到 1995 年的 31%，这一降幅大于其他年龄组；在 MLDA 提高直接影响的年龄组（18-20 岁）和未直接受影响的青少年年龄组（16-17 岁）中都出现了下降。几乎所有专门设计来评估饮酒年龄变化效果的研究都表明，21 岁 MLDA 可减少年轻人的饮酒量、问题饮酒、酒后驾车和与酒精相关的车祸。然而，仍有许多未成年人饮酒，许多人酒后驾车，而且酒精仍然是青少年司机严重车祸的重要风险因素，尤其是在他们进入青少年时期时。加强对 MLDA 和酒后驾车法律的执行可以减少未成年人饮酒。最近，有人试图将 MLDA 降低到 18 岁，并在完成酒精教育后颁发饮酒许可证，这些举措引起了地方和全国媒体的关注。没有证据表明酒精教育甚至可以部分替代 21 岁 MLDA 的效果。