2. facts Nearly three quarters of students (72%) have consumed alcohol by the end of high school, and more than a third (37%) have done so by eighth grade Among race demographics, whites had the highest percentage of underage alcohol use 30.4%, Asians had the lowest rate at 16.1% U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
3. facts The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days 42% drank some amount of alcohol. 24% binge drank. 10% drove after drinking alcohol. 28% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
4. questions Are younger children to adults engaging in responsible drinking habits? (i.e. not receiving alcohol violations) Do individuals believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18? How many individuals have consumed alcohol before reaching the legal drinking age? Do individuals believe that drinking violations should have more consequences if the drinking age is lowered to 18?
5. Questions Why do individuals actually drink? Does gender affect the consumption of alcohol, the decision of when to start drinking, and the decision on lowering the drinking age? Does age affect the consumption of alcohol, the decision of when to start drinking, and the decision on lowering the drinking age?
6. Relevant factors Current underage drinking violations Environmental influence Drinking Citations Age Gender Location
7. Data collected Research Question Will lowering the legal drinking age to 18 cause a drop in underage drinking violations and lead to responsible drinking habits? Target audience Teenagers to Young Adults Random Systematic Sampling Method Distributed 100 surveys, Received 96 back
24. If Age Was Lowered, Would You Have Waited? 1 = 15-20 * 2 = 21-25 * 3 = 26-30 * 4 = Over 30
25. Do You Think Lowering The Drinking Age Will Lead To Responsible Drinking Habits and Decrease The Number Of Drinking Violations? 1 = 15-20 * 2 = 21-25 * 3 = 26-30 * 4 = Over 30
26. Age Change 1 = 15-20 * 2 = 21-25 * 3 = 26-30 * 4 = Over 30
27. First Drink By Age 1 = 15-20 * 2 = 21-25 * 3 = 26-30 * 4 = Over 30
28. Underage drinking Test One sample proportion Null Pi < = 80% - No more then 80% drink before the legal drinking age (21) Alternative Pi > 80% - More then 80% drink before the legal drinking age (21) One-Tailed Sample Proportion = 90.6% Mean = 87 Sample Size = 96 STD Error = 0.040824829 T-Observed = 2.603 T-Critical = 1.645 P-Value = .005 Reference Value = 80% REJECT THE NULL
29. Ages impact on perception of fairness Test Two Tailed Two sample proportion Null p1 = p2 - Age does not impact the perception of fairness Alternative p1 < > p2 - Age does impact the perception of fairness Two-Tailed Sample Proportion under 21 = 65% Sample Proportion over 21 = 75% Pooled Proportion = .72 STD Error = 0.116 T-Observed = .826 T-Critical = 1.96 P-Value = .409 Reference Value = 80% ACCEPT THE NULL
30. Female VS. male drinking before 21 Test Two sample proportion Null Females are not more likely to drink before the legal drinking age than males Alternative Females are more likely to drink before the legal drinking age than males One -Tailed Sample Proportion Male = 87% Sample Proportion Female = 94% Pooled Proportion = .916 STD Error = 0.058 T-Observed = 1.154 T-Critical = 1.645 P-Value = .124 ACCEPT THE NULL
31. Linear Regression Test Null – Age does not have an impact on age change Alternative – Age has an impact on view of Age Change Dependent Variable – Opinion of change Independent Variable – Age Weak Positive Relationship R- Squared - 13% Standard error - .84 P - Value: - .0002 Slope – .29 Y-intercept – 1.63 REJECT THE NULL
32. Linear Regression Test Null – Gender does not have an impact on consumption Alternative – Gender has an impact on consumption Dependent Variable – Weekly consumption Independent Variable – Gender Weak Negative Relationship R- Squared: .07% Standard Error: 1.07 P - Value: .006 Slope – - 0.6 Y-intercept – 1.7 REJECT THE NULL
33. Why the legal drinking age is 21 Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity Disruption of normal growth and sexual development Physical and sexual assault Higher risk for suicide and homicide Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning Memory problems Abuse of other drugs Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects Death from alcohol poisoning U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
34. Why the legal drinking age is 21 Median 16% decline in motor vehicle crashes among underage youth in states that increased the legal drinking age to 21 years Age 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws result in lower levels of alcohol consumption among young adults age 21 years and older as well as those less than age 21 years States with more stringent alcohol control policies tend to have lower adult and college binge drinking rates U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
35. Conclusion The majority of all age ranges except for 15-20 believe that the drinking age should stay the same The majority of people believe if the legal drinking age was lowered, it would not lead to responsible drinking and less violations The majority of people believe that if the drinking age was lowered, the violations should be more severe The majority of people who incurred violations had received them before the legal drinking age
36. Recommendations Changes To Test Question 5D – Are penalties fare? Question 7 – Why did you drink for the first time? Further Research Comparison of United States vs. European Countries