'''Alcohol abuse''' is a problem that encompasses more than [[alcoholism]] (a chronic, lifelong acquired [[disease]] in which a person is dependent upon alcohol); one can abuse [[alcohol]] without being dependent on its effects.<ref>http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs/General-English/default.htm#whatis</ref> Over 17 million people in the [[United States]] are either alcohol abusers or alcoholics. Alcohol abuse is a problem for people of all demographics, but is highest among people aged 18-29. People who start drinking at a young age are much more likely to become alcohol abusers than people who do not start drinking until the age of 21, but there is little objective, independent evidence to suggest a correlation. In 1984, President [[Ronald Reagan]] threatened to veto the [[Democratic]] [[House of Representative]]s' bill that would federally raise the drinking age to 21, citing states' rights concerns.
Since raising the drinking agewas raised to a nationally uniform 21, drunk driving-related deaths have dropped substantially, at almost the same percent percentage as driving-related deaths that do not involve alcohol. Drinking age opponents and independent studies suggest that vehicle safety, seatbelt wearing, and increased use of designated drivers account for the substantial decrease in alcohol- and non-alcohol-related driving deaths. Furthermore, the trend started in 1969 but plateaued in the mid- to -late-1990's when cops 'n shops programs became popular. However, the introduction of cops 'n shops and slowing of the decrease in drunk driving deaths may be unrelated.
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