Legal age limits for alcohol consumption are effective tools, and their impact often extends well beyond their intended boundaries
Legal age limits for alcohol consumption are among the most common tools used to protect young people from the harms of early drinking. Policymakers around the world face difficult choices about when individuals should be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol. The aim is clear: delay access to reduce risky behaviors and safeguard public health. But do these policies have effects that go beyond the individuals they target? Could legal age limits, while well-intentioned, also lead to unintended consequences for others, especially within families?
In our recent research, we investigate the effects of Finland’s two-tier minimum legal drinking age policy on health outcomes. Finland provides a unique setting: individuals can legally purchase lower-strength alcoholic beverages at age 18, but must wait until age 20 to access stronger drinks. This staggered approach offers a natural experiment to examine what happens when young people gain legal access to alcohol, and crucially, how this affects not only their own behavior, but also that of their younger siblings.
Our findings show a clear pattern. As individuals reach the legal drinking age, their alcohol consumption rises, as seen in a noticeable uptick in alcohol-related hospital admissions. However, the impact does not stop there. We also find strong evidence of spillover effects: younger, underage siblings are more likely to be hospitalized for alcohol-related reasons when their older sibling gains legal access to alcohol. In short, legal thresholds shape not only individual behavior, but also household norms and access to alcohol.
These spillover effects are particularly pronounced among young men, who are generally more prone to risky drinking. We believe that having an older sibling who can legally purchase alcohol may make it easier to access alcohol, reinforce social norms around drinking, or alter family dynamics in ways that increase exposure to risk for younger siblings.
From a policy perspective, our research shows that the impact of legal drinking age laws extends well beyond the individuals they directly target. While these laws are effective at limiting underage access to alcohol, they can also generate unintended consequences within families and peer groups. As such, prevention strategies should not only address those reaching legal age, but also take into account how their behavior may influence others, particularly younger individuals who are still below the legal threshold.
As governments craft alcohol regulations and public health initiatives, our findings underscore the importance of considering the broader social context in which young people live. Legal age limits are powerful policy instruments, but their effects can ripple far beyond their immediate scope.
Ultimately, effective alcohol policy must go beyond individual consumption. It should recognize and address the hidden health costs of coming of age, not only for young drinkers themselves, but also for those in their social and familial circles.
© Petri Böckerman, Mika Haapanen, and Christopher Jepsen
Petri Böckerman is Professor at Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Finland, Research Economist at the Labour Institute for Economic Research, Finland, and IZA Research Fellow
Mika Haapanen is Professor and Vice Dean at Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Finland
Christopher Jepsen is Professor at the School of Economics at University College Dublin, Irland, and IZA Research Fellow
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