The new Support 21 coalition, launched by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Medical Association, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is aimed at countering growing calls for lowering the national drinking age from 21 to 18.

The AFP reported Oct. 9 that Support 21 members said that the age-21 laws that have been in place since 1984 have helped lower alcohol-related deaths.

"Everything in science indicates that the drinking age didn't cause binge drinking and will make it worse if it's lowered," added MADD CEO Chuck Hurley. NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker said that there is no new evidence to suggest that the law should be changed.

The group Choose Responsibility is among those calling for lowering the drinking age, saying that letting youths drink younger would help prevent binge drinking in college.

"They always say that we talk off the cuff and we have opinions masquerading as facts," said John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College and head of Choose Responsibility. "They will tell you that 52 studies show a direct relationship between the drinking age and alcohol-related fatalities. But the rest of the story is that there are an equal number of studies that show no relationship."