Abstract
A survey is described which was carried out in 1996 among 16-20 year olds living in New York. The issues examined included a) the degree to which the 21 drinking age law had an immediate impact on alcohol-related behaviour among the underaged, b) the extent to which the law exerted a long term impact, c) the degree to which the law helped reduce drink driving among those under 21 and d) the extent to which the law affected other substance abuse behaviours. The 21 drinking age law is shown to have had a positive effect. Areas for continued effort are identified, in particular the involvement of parents and the use of college-specific campaigning.