by the Center for Science in the Public Interest

About the author: The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a nonprofit organization that promotes alcohol abuse prevention policies.

State Age-21 laws are one of the most effective public policies ever implemented in the Nation . . . I am chagrined to report that some supposedly responsible officials would like to repeal them. — Jim Hall, Chairman National Transportation Safety Board

Argument: Lowering the drinking age will reduce the allure of alcohol as a “forbidden fruit” for minors.

Response: Lowering the drinking age will make alcohol more available to an even younger population, replacing “forbidden fruit” with “low-hanging fruit.”

The practices and behaviors of 18 year-olds are particularly influential on 15– 17 year-olds. If 18 year-olds get the OK to drink...