Introduction
The 21 year-old drinking age, officially known as the National Minimum Drinking Age Act became law in1984. The raised drinking age was one of 39 recommendations advanced by a Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving appointed in 1982 and, with the active support of MADD, became the first recommendation acted upon by Congress. Since that time it has been viewed by MADD and others as the chief weapon in the battle to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities.