Legal drinking age in the United States

In 1985, South Dakota challenged the NMDAA, but in 1987, the Supreme Court ruled the Act was constitutional for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

[9] In 2013, more than two-thirds of American students had consumed alcohol by the end of high school; and more than half of 12th graders had been drunk at least once in their lifetime.

[10] The US economy loses hundreds of billions of dollars from lost productivity and earnings, with alcohol-related illness being a primary factor.

[11] The most dangerous social problem involved in underage drinking is driving under the influence because of its contribution to fatalities and injuries among adolescents.

[17] Within the U.S., youth are being targeted by social media in order to drive sales higher by highlighting alcohol consumption in a positive way.

[19] An adult is legally considered to be over the age of 18, has the right to vote, contractual capacity, and financial responsibility.

[21] Alcohol abuse can lead to many problems, including increased chances of developing certain cardiovascular conditions, a depressant effect resulting in decreased attention and slow reaction speeds, loss of control of actions, mood changes, addiction, brain deterioration, and pregnancy issues.

[22][23][24][25] Alcohol increases the flow of insulin, which speeds up glucose metabolism and results in low blood sugar.

[29] [failed verification] Some people, such as sociology professor David Hanson, suggest lowering it.