According to the Centers for Disease Control, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States and is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths annually among underage youth.
The current drinking age of 21, came about in 1984, when President Ronald Regan signed a law that incentivized states to raise the drinking age. That law was intended to reduce the number of traffic deaths caused by young drunken drivers.
However, some say the ban has created something of a “forbidden fruit” mentality in youth.
Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) wants to see the legal drinking age lowered to 19, whereby parents can help train their children how to drink responsibly.