First, advocates of age requirements recommend that the drinking age has helped maintain the safety and public health of young people. As indicated by Alexander C. Wagenaar, "there are several health benefits related to a higher minimum legal age for alcohol consumption, and it is argued that such data should be considered in discussions regarding the minimum legal drinking age "purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages." Similarly, Wagenaar and Traci L. Toomey point out that drinking in adolescents can be disastrous for mental development and that drinking problems can emerge in young people.