An Oklahoma statute prohibited the sale of beer to males under the age of 21 and females under the age of 18. Craig (P) claimed that this gender-based difference violated the fourteenth amendment by denying males 18-20 years old their equal protection rights. Boren (D), claimed that the law was a traffic safety measure and that the protection of public health and safety was an important function of state and local governments. D gave evidence showing that 18-20-year-old male arrests for driving under the influence and drunkenness were substantially higher than those for females of the same age. A three-judge court sustained the constitutionality of the statutory differential and dismissed the action, holding that the ordinance served the important governmental objective of public safety. P appealed.

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