Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/311946 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17507
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Over the past decades, many European countries have raised the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 16 to 18 years. This study provides novel evidence of the impact of this policy on educational outcomes by exploiting the staggered timing of MLDA changes across Spanish regions. Raising the MLDA decreased alcohol consumption among adolescents aged 14–17 by 8 to 18% and improved their exam performance by 4% of a standard deviation. This effect appears driven by alcohol's direct impact on cognitive ability, as we find no significant changes in potential mediators like use of other substances or time spent on leisure activities, including socialising, sports, gaming, or internet use. We also observe a decrease in tranquilliser and sleeping pill use, suggesting improved mental health. Our findings indicate that reducing teenage alcohol consumption represents a significant opportunity to improve educational outcomes in Europe, where youth drinking rates remain notably high.
Subjects: 
alcohol
adolescence
minimum legal drinking age
PISA
JEL: 
I18
I12
I21
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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