Swiss study | December 29, 2025
Later is better: Raising the Drinking Age Linked to Better Grades and Mental Health
Table of Contents
A new study reveals that delaying when young people first drink can have a surprisingly positive impact on their education and well-being.
- A study of Spanish regions with stricter alcohol laws found a 14 percent drop in binge drinking.
- Raising the minimum drinking age from 16 to 18 is a cost-effective way to improve cognitive development.
- Teens in regions with higher drinking ages were 10 percent less likely to need medication for anxiety or insomnia.
- Almost half of European 15-16 year olds report having consumed alcohol in the past month.
Want to give your teenager a leg up in school and protect their mental health? The answer might be simpler than you think: delay their first drink. A new study from the University of Zurich suggests that raising the minimum drinking age can significantly improve both academic performance and mental well-being in young people. The research,released December 29,2025,highlights the benefits of reducing binge drinking among adolescents.
SpainS Experiment Offers Clues
Researchers analyzed data from four Spanish regions that tightened their alcohol laws over the past two decades. These reforms generally included raising the minimum age for consumption, implementing stricter sales regulations, and introducing new advertising restrictions, according to a statement from the University of Zurich (UZH).
The findings are especially relevant for Switzerland, where 16-year-olds can legally consume beer and wine, and youth drinking rates are above the European Union average. The study suggests that stricter age limits aren’t just about preventing underage drinking; they’re an investment in young people’s futures.
Cognitive Development and Mental Health Benefits
The Spanish experience showed that raising the minimum drinking age from 16 to 18 is a surprisingly cost-effective way to promote cognitive development. Alcohol can impair brain development during adolescence, a period when the brain is particularly vulnerable.
carmen Villa, assistant professor in the Department of Economics at UZH, found that tightening alcohol laws led to a 14 percent decrease in binge drinking. Beyond academics, the study also revealed a positive impact on mental health. Teens in regions with higher drinking ages were 10 percent less likely to require medication for anxiety and insomnia.
A Large-Scale Analysis
The UZH analysis was complete, drawing on data from approximately 250,000 school students, 180,000 participants in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), and 600,000 individuals from the 2021 census. This robust dataset strengthens the study’s conclusions.
What’s the best age to start drinking? the study doesn’t pinpoint an ideal age, but it strongly suggests that delaying alcohol consumption until at least 18 offers important benefits for young people’s cognitive development and mental health.
