NCJ Number
141018
Journal
Deviant Behavior Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 59-71
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Using samples from two States, one where the legal drinking age is 18 (Louisiana) and one where the age is 21 (North Carolina), this study examined the assumption that restricting access to alcohol results in lower alcohol consumption rates for the population between 18 and 20 years of age.
Abstract
Both samples were drawn from a population of university students enrolled in social science classes. In order to ensure age variation, classes were selected to approximately equalize the number of students sampled in freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior courses. The Louisiana sample was drawn in the spring of 1986 at a State university with a student population of 17,000. The North Carolina sample was also drawn in the spring of 1986 at a State university with a student population of 14,500. Independent study variables included minimum legal drinking age and respondent age. Dependent variables involved quantity of alcohol consumed and location of alcohol consumption. Of 579 questionnaires collected, 330 came from Louisiana and 249 from North Carolina. Two basic trends emerged from the analysis. First, a higher legal drinking age resulted in slightly lower alcohol consumption rates for 18-year-olds in controlled situations. Second, in uncontrolled situations where the minimum legal drinking age was higher, students between 18 and 20 years of age who drank illegally consumed dramatically more than their counterparts in similar situations when the minimum age was 18. Findings did not support the assumption that restricting access to alcohol leads to lower alcohol consumption for the target population. 27 references and 3 tables