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Vile, John R. Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment. N.p.: Congressional Quarterly, 2012. Print.

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The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 helped raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 in all fifty states. State and local governments are responsible for enforcing the Act.

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Vile, John R. Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment. N.p.: Congressional Quarterly, 2012. Print.

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The Ronald Reagan administration found research that related underage drinking to highway traffic deaths.

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Vile, John R. Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment. N.p.: Congressional Quarterly, 2012. Print.

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The Act didn't directly raise the drinking age to 21, but instead used the Federal Highway Aid act to reduce highway funding to states that did not raise their minimum drinking age.

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"35 Years Together: MADD." Madd.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

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The Mothers Against Drunk Driving helped pass the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.

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McCardell, John M., Jr. "What Your College President Didn't Tell You." The New York Times [New York] 13 Sept. 2004: n. pag. Print.

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The raise of the drinking age has caused a rise in binge drinking in college students.

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Engs, Ruth C. Why the Drinking Age Should Be Lowered: An Opinion Based upon Research. Indiana University. Indiana University, 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. Originally published in 1997.

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Statistics show that 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers

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Engs, Ruth C. Why the Drinking Age Should Be Lowered: An Opinion Based upon Research. Indiana University. Indiana University, 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. Originally published in 1997.

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The decrease in drunk driving reported in the 1980s was not a result of the National Minimum Drinking Act, rather, it was the result of numerous factors including drunk driving education, free cab rides from drinking establishments, designated driver programs, and lower speed limits.

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Asch, Peter, and David T. Levy. "Young Driver Fatalities: The Roles of Drinking Age and Drinking Experience." Southern Economic Journal 57.2 (1990): 512. ProCon. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

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Research shows that in 2009, the highest percentage of drivers involved in fatal car crashes resulting from a high blood-alcohol concentration were in the age group of 21-24.

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Dee, Thomas S., and William N. Evans. "Behavioral Policies and Teen Traffic Safety." American Economic Review 91.2 (2001): 91-96. University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

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Research suggests that raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21 delays fatalities associated with drunk driving until adulthood, instead of decreasing rates of drunk driving.

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Dee, Thomas S., and William N. Evans. "Behavioral Policies and Teen Traffic Safety." American Economic Review 91.2 (2001): 91-96. University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

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More experience with alcohol will reduce traffic-related deaths.

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Dee, Thomas S., and William N. Evans. "Behavioral Policies and Teen Traffic Safety." American Economic Review 91.2 (2001): 91-96. University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

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Graduated licensing - designed to provide new drivers with driving experience and skills over time. Has been implemented since 1996 in the US and has been proven to be effective.

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"How Do Other Countries Compare to the United States in Incidence of Alcohol-related Problems?" Choose Responsibility. Choose Responsibility, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

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Research shows that teens ages 15 and 16 in European states with a MLDA of 18 have fewer dangerous and intoxication experiences than their American counterparts, while also having more drinking functions per month and less enforced MLDA compared to Americans.

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"How Do Other Countries Compare to the United States in Incidence of Alcohol-related Problems?" Choose Responsibility. Choose Responsibility, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

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While fewer young people are drinking with a MLDA of 21, those who do choose to drink are drinking more, which causes a rise in binge drinking, specifically on college campuses.

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"18 Interesting Pro Lowering the Drinking Age Statistics - HRFnd." HRFnd. N.p., 03 Jan. 2015. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

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States risk losing 10% of highway funding if they lower their MLDA, according to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act.

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"18 Interesting Pro Lowering the Drinking Age Statistics - HRFnd." HRFnd. N.p., 03 Jan. 2015. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

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More teenagers are drinking alcohol in unsupervised environments, such as fraternity and house parties.

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Cohen, Sidney. The Alcoholism Problems: Selected Issues. New York: Haworth, 1983. Print.

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Even before the MLDA was established, automobile accident rates were higher in drivers under 21.

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Bonnie, Richard J., and Mary Ellen O'Connell. Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. Washington, DC: National Academies, 2004. Print.

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30% of high school seniors drink heavily at least once a month. 40% of full time college students drink heavily.

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Bonnie, Richard J., and Mary Ellen O'Connell. Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. Washington, DC: National Academies, 2004. Print.

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Underage drinking costs the economy $53 billion yearly.

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Snyder, Gail. Teens & Alcohol. Broomall, PA: Mason Crest, 2004. Print.

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Middle and high school students drink 35% of all wine coolers sold in the US, and about 1.1 billion cans of beer a year.

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Sebastian, Michael. "Two U.S. States Might Lower The Drinking Age From 21." Delish. N.p., 12 Nov. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.

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Some politicians desire to adopt what they call a European mindset. They would drop the legal drinking age, and teach young people how to drink responsibly in a social setting.

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Dwyer, Kate. "Why These 3 States Want to Lower the Minimum Drinking Age." Teen Vogue. Teen Vogue, 14 Jan. 2016. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

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Politicians in New Hampshire and Minnesota proposed bills that would allow 18-20 year olds to drink beer and wine anywhere as long as they are accompanied by someone 21 or older.

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Belden, Doug. "Minnesota Drinking Age Debate Resurfaces with Federal Ruling." The Pioneer Press. The Pioneer Press, 04 Feb. 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

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"It's a very good way to deal with the serious problem of binge drinking, particularly on college campuses," said Minnesota state representative Phyllis Kahn.

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Dwyer, Kate. "Why These 3 States Want to Lower the Minimum Drinking Age." Teen Vogue. Teen Vogue, 14 Jan. 2016. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

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"Eighteen-year-olds have nearly every burden and privilege of adults...except the right to drink alcohol. This is a misguided aberration from 1984 that should be corrected," said California politician Terrance Lynn.

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