Lowering the drinking age would lead to more low-birth weight babies and unwanted pregnancies, says researchers at the University of Georgia.

They found that a drinking age of 18 would lead to an almost 5% increase in the number of births to 18-20 year olds. The likelihood of women under 21 having a low-birth weight baby increases by 6% with the lower drinking age. Premature birth rates are also increased by 5-7% in teenagers under age 18 when the drinking age is lowered.

Researchers used data on alcohol use during a period when state minimum drinking age laws were in flux from 1978 to 1988.

Does the potential for higher rates of unwanted pregnancies affect your opinion about lowering the drinking age?

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Post from: Blisstree

Lower Drinking Age = Unwanted Pregnancies