Nonetheless, the U.S. Department of Transportation claims these laws reduce traffic fatalities involving drivers in 18 to 20 years old. Some Canadians believe that’s reason enough to follow the Americans’ lead and raise our minimum drinking age from 18 and 19 years to 21.

In European countries, the drinking age varies from 18 to no age limit at all. Public drunkenness is by and large socially unacceptable, and drink-driving laws are very strict.

The highest rates of impaired driving in Canada are among younger drivers. In 2002, drivers aged 19 to 24 represented 56 per cent of reported incidents; a stunning 44 percent of fatally injured drivers aged 20-25 had been drinking. The drunk driving problem among young adults is far from solved.

If all 13 provinces and territories made it illegal to drink until age 21 would the situation improve? Or is this just another quick fix approach with little chance of success? The Canada Safety Council receives regular inquiries on this subject.

For all novice drivers, a zero permissible alcohol level is already in place across Canada. Statistics show the highest rate of impaired driving is at age 21. Why set the drinking age at the level where drinking and driving peaks?

The U.S. has serious compliance problems. Even the President’s daughter, Jenna Bush, was caught drinking underage in 2001. Can a drinking age of 21 realistically be enforced in our society?

Possession of cannabis is not only illegal in Canada — it is a criminal offence at any age. Yet over the past 10 years, use of cannabis in the under-21 age group has drastically increased; a 2004 survey found that over 47 percent of respondents in the 18-19 age group had used that substance in the past year.

This track record indicates it is unlikely the under-21 crowd would stop drinking en masse just because the government made it illegal. It may in fact be safer to let them drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, pubs and official university functions than at free-for-all parties held in the bush or private homes.

Raising the drinking age could cause more problems than it solves. Canada needs smart solutions that aim for long-term improvements. Based on credible research and analysis of the situation as a whole, they must take into account human psychology, cost effectiveness and potential impacts.

Let’s start by understanding what motivates young people to drink to excess and to seek intoxicating substances. Programs that address the reasons for the behaviour are more likely to work in the long term than a prohibition style approach.

May 25 2005

Return to top of page

Canadian Addiction Survey. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), November, 2004. Prevalence of Use and Related Harms: Highlights

Juristat : Impaired driving and other traffic offences: 2002. Vol. 23, no. 9, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, November 7, 2003.