Study: Underage drinking laws making a difference

Posted by Benji Riggins on April 21, 2009 under Safety | Be the First to Comment

Underage drinking laws are taking a toll on fatal accidents, saving an estimated 732 lives per year, according to researchers at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

A recent study by the group suggests that adoption of so called use and lose laws nationwide could save an additional 165 lives annually. Such laws mean anyone under 21 cited for possession, consumption or an attempt to purchase alcohol faces a suspended driver’s license.

Researchers analyzed six underage drinking laws as well as four general impaired-driving and traffic safety laws and came to the conclusion that the underage laws had the largest impact.

For example, laws banning underage possession or purchase of alcohol led to an 11 percent decline in alcohol-related traffic deaths among minors. However, the study found that the general laws still made a significant impact in cutting down the number of deaths related to drunk driving. Such laws include the suspension of a license for exceeding a blood alcohol content of .08 while behind the wheel and allowing officers to stop drivers who are not wearing a seat belt.