ALARMING FACTS AND FIGURES

“Raising the drinking age back up to 21 was a successful strategy in the United States. This is a country that has a far greater population base and diverse legal system to contend with, than we do in Australia. The research from the US has revealed that by raising the drinking age back up to 21, 16,409 lives have been saved from road death in a sixteen year period. The estimates from the study show that the raised minimum age drinking laws in all states have reduced traffic fatalities in 18 to 20 year olds by 13%.

“Apart from reducing road carnage, raising the drinking age is one of the key issues to reducing overall alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol is the main gateway drug. When people delay the start of alcohol use to 21 they are less likely to develop addiction to alcohol or any other drug.

Delaying the onset of alcohol use also falls in line with the latest research on the development of the adolescent brain. The thirteen year long US National Institute of Mental Health study confirms research that shows a delay of drinking (and its likely gateway into other drugs) till 21 reduces the harm from these substances.

This is backed by a recent international comparison of underage alcohol use, conducted by Australian and US researchers and involving 6000 children, which has found rates of binge drinking are up to three times higher among Australian Year 9 students compared with equivalent American teenagers. The study found higher binge drinking rates in Australia showed the current approaches are not working. The rising rates of Australian teenagers being admitted to hospital for alcohol-related injuries made the findings of serious concern.

Now these statistics are REALLY alarming!!! Reading this should get everyone to agree that raising the legal alcohol consumption age to 21 is the way to SAVE LIVES!!!