Survey Says 40% Of Mass. Parents Believe Drinking Age Should Be Lowered

Nearly half of Massachusetts parents participating in a recent study would be in favor of lowering the legal drinking age.

Alcohol.org conducted a nationwide poll of 3,100 parents, which reported 40% of responders from Massachusetts were in favor of the change.

The average was higher than all other New England States with Vermont reporting 27% of parents favoring the lowering of the drinking age, New Hampshire reporting 14%, Maine reporting 20%, Connecticut reporting 11% and Rhode Island reporting 14%.

“The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was implemented across the nation following a large spike in alcohol-induced car accidents in the 1970s,” an Alcohol.org press release obtained by Boston.com stated. “Despite the law being issued, according to the NIH, young people between the ages of 12 and 20 consume one-tenth (11%) of all alcohol consumed across the United States. Many parents have come to the conclusion that playing an active role in their children’s alcohol education will encourage more responsible drinking later in life.”

The survey also found only 59% of parents admitted to have previously spoken to their children about alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests parents who discussed alcohol with their kids were less likely to have children who tried alcohol in their teens and the likelihood for when they've first tried it goes up as they get older.

The survey also reported only 10% of 12-year-olds admitted to trying alcohol, but the number increased to 50% by age 15 and 70% among high school seniors, Boston.com reports.

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