Lower Drinking Age in New Zealand Blamed for Increase in Youth Car Accidents
The New Zealand legislature lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999. A study of statistics found that this change could be responsible for an increase in the number of accidents and injuries among 15-17 year-olds and 18-19 year-olds. 15-17 year-old males saw a 14% increase, while females in the same group experienced a 24% increase. In the 18-19 age group, males had a 12% increase while females saw a 51% increase.