Stanford changes alcohol policy

[bluebayou]

Of course lowering the drinking age is worth discussing.

The US drinking age has been federal policy since 1984, dictated to the states by the State Highway trust funds. There is no serious discussion/proposals at the federal level to change it, particularly since it appears to be effective, so any discussion here is pie-in-the-sky and only serves to get the discussion off topic.

There is strong evidence supporting the United States’ drinking age of 21 years, e.g. with respect to its effectiveness in reducing highway crashes.[17][18] Multiple studies have concluded that increasing the MLDA to 21 resulted in a 19% decrease in traffic fatalities.[19] The MLDA of 21 saves the lives of as many as 1,000 young Americans every year.[20] A 2014 review found that the under-21 law has reduced “alcohol-related traffic crashes and alcohol consumption among youths”, as well as protected youths from adverse health outcomes they might experience as adults, including “alcohol and other drug dependence, adverse birth outcomes, and suicide and homicide.”[21] A 2016 study suggests that a higher drinking age reduces “accidental injuries, alcohol overdoses, and injuries inflicted by others.”[22]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_Act