Parents who allow underage drinking, criticize the law, shrug off fake IDs (because “everyone” has one, or because they had one when they were young), etc., are part of the problem, imo. They essentially show their kids that they approve of and expect under-age drinking. Kids receive a mixed message–anti drug/alcohol education in school vs. “it’s a stupid law–we drank/did drugs when we were that age and it was fun/didn’t hurt us” at home. Studies have shown that raising the drinking age to 21 has saved lives. When I was in high school (late 70s) there were 16-17yo getting fake IDs, high school seniors legally buying beer for their friends, and more kids dying in drunk driving accidents. http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/wagenaar.aspx