Study: Lowering drinking age leads to more high school dropouts

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A new study weighs in on whether lowering the drinking age could help reduce binge drinking in college students.

Researchers studied data from areas where the drinking age dropped from 21 to 18. They say lowering the drinking age reduces the need to binge in secret.

But, there were other consequences: more high school dropouts. They found the dropout rate goes up when the minimum drinking age is 18.

The findings appear in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.