The consumption of alcohol in public places, with the exception of designated drinking areas, is prohibited regardless of age. The following tables present the Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) and related data for 190 independent states recognized by the U.S. Department of State as of July 15, 2015. Data are from the World Health Organization`s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2014 2014, unless otherwise noted. No information on alcohol age was available for Djibouti, Lebanon, Marshall Islands, North Korea or South Sudan, the other five countries listed as independent states by the State Department. In the late 20th century, much of North America changed its legal drinking age (MLDA) as follows: police can search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy alcoholic beverages in their possession. Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and child protection services, who may be involved in child protection proceedings. In addition, a fine is imposed on persons aged 15 and over. [167] In the 1970s, provincial and state policymakers in Canada and the United States switched to lower MLDAs (which were set at 21 in most provinces, territories, and states) to coincide with the age of judicial majority – usually 18. As a result, MLDAs have been reduced in all Canadian provinces [and] in more than half of U.S. states.
In Canada, however, two provinces, Ontario (1979) and Saskatchewan (1976), rapidly increased their subsequent AOMLs from ages 18 to 19 in response to some studies showing a link between lowering the drinking age and increasing alcohol-related harms among adolescents and young adults, including increases in motor vehicle crashes and alcohol poisoning among high school students. Following the reduction of AMRs in the United States, research conducted in several states provided convincing evidence of a sharp increase in fatal and non-fatal traffic accident rates that occurred immediately after the introduction of a lower age for drinking. These scientific discoveries increased public pressure on legislators to increase MLDAs, and in response, the federal government introduced the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which required a reduction in highway funding for states if they did not increase their MLDA to 21. All states complied and introduced a 21-year MLDA in 1988. [39] An alternative therapy for alcoholism that has been used in Russia is the practice of “coding,” in which therapists claim to insert a “code” into patients` brains, with the purported effect that drinking even small amounts of alcohol is extremely harmful or even deadly. Although it is not recommended in Russian clinical guidelines, it enjoys great popularity. In recent years, its use has decreased due to the dissemination of information about its ineffectiveness. [34] [35] The legal drinking age is 18 in Abu Dhabi (although a Ministry of Tourism regulation allows hotels to serve alcohol only to people over 21) and 21 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (with the exception of Sharjah, where alcohol consumption is prohibited). [113] The Russian Minister of Health announced the need to raise the legal drinking age to 21 in response to the increase in alcohol-related deaths during the coronavirus crisis.
Although the measure seems urgent, it is not a new idea in the country. The most well-known reason for the law behind the legal drinking age is the effect on the brain in teenagers. As the brain is still maturing, alcohol can have a negative effect on memory and long-term thinking. In addition, it can cause liver failure and cause hormonal imbalance in adolescents due to the constant changes and maturation of hormones during puberty. [3] Youth are also particularly at risk of injury when drinking alcohol,[4] as they may not have the necessary knowledge about low-risk drinking. In fact, public health researchers found that people`s age to drink the first full serving of alcohol was significantly related to knowledge of low-risk alcohol consumption and beverage counting. Knowledge about low-risk alcohol consumption and frequency of beverage counting increased more sharply with age at first drinking in adolescence than at the end of the period. [5] Manzoor Butt, “Illegal Alcohol Consumption Kills Hundreds of People Every Year in Pakistan; Primary care physicians need to take a more proactive role in saving precious lives,” Middle East Journal of Business, April.
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