Prior to the 1984 passage of a uniform drinking-age limit of 21 years in the U.S., many states permitted the legal purchase of alcohol at age 18.

Although presidents at some U.S. colleges have argued that lowering the minimum legal drinking age could help curb binge drinking on campuses, a new study in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs suggests such a measure would be ineffective.

A new study found that a lowered minimum drinking age could be linked to a higher rate of unplanned pregnancies and premature births.

Amid renewed calls to consider reducing the legal drinking age, a new University of Georgia study finds that lower drinking ages increase unplanned pregnancies and pre-term births among young people.

By MARC KOVAC By MARC KOVAC Dix Capital Bureau COLUMBUS -- Keeping the legal drinking age at 21 will help to reduce alcohol-related injuries and deaths and the number of young people who drink, according to a study released by a substance abuse prevention group.