In part two of our article on teenage alcoholism we look at teenage drunk driving and restriction measures.

To read part one of the article click here.

2. DUI Countermeasures
DUI countermeasures encompass several different techniques for reducing alcohol consumption by aiming at reduction in driving while intoxicated. The principle measures with proven success which are useful for our purposes are random breathalyzer tests, reduction in the BAC levels acceptable for driving and alcohol breathalyzer machines in vehicles. All of these methods are proven to be successful by reducing alcohol-related injuries and deaths between 5% and 30%. Additional measures for DUI countermeasures which have proven effective are zero tolerance for young drivers and administrative license suspension. Babor et al. (2003).

Random breathalyzer tests at police roadblocks have been used in the last several years with proven success. In Australia these measures have proven to reduce fatalities by 15%. Room, Babor, Rehn (2005). The success is not in DUI arrests, but in an increased visual presence of police at undisclosed locations throughout a given locale. The increased presence has a chilling effect on driving under the influence, if the penalties are severe enough when caught. Recently, in the last 20 years, penalties have increased substantially to the point where many drinkers will not risk driving while intoxicated. An increased police presence at road-blocks reminds drivers of the DUI penalties.

Lowering BAC levels is a proven method for reduction of alcohol-related harm. European BAC levels are predominately 0.05% while Sweden lowered the national BAC level to 0.02% with verifiable reductions in alcohol-related fatalities. Room et al. (2005). This measure would be combined with road-blocks and increased police presence to be most effective.

    Public Support

The general public would support a decrease in the number of DUI injuries and fatalities on the highways. In the past 20 years, driving under the influence of alcohol has decreased in popularity due in part to the efforts of NGO’s like MADD, which raised public awareness of the dangers of DUI and went straight to the legislature with tales of the horrors of DUI deaths. The legislature and public listened. DUI countermeasures are an extension of the MADD movement to decrease, or eliminate, driving while intoxicated. Lowering BAC levels to as low as .02% would require extensive public education, or a step-reduction to .05% initially, then target .02%.

    Alcohol Industry Opposition

The alcohol industry has attempted their version of DUI controls by advocating the “Designated Driver” campaign, but studies have shown that it is not an effective means for reduced alcohol consumption or accidents. Babor et al. (2003). In actuality, the designated driver campaign allows and actually encourages increased drinking! You can drink all you want as long as someone else drives! Be as irresponsible as you want as long as you know someone who is sober! The designated driver campaign actually increases alcohol consumption and increases profits by encouraging groups of people to drink together with one sober friend, so the numbers might be 4 drunks to 1 sober person. The campaign is not a 1 to 1 ratio where each drunk person is paired with a sober person as that would reduce drinking in that scenario by 50%. At 5 to 1 ratio is only 20% reduction in profit for that scenario, which is much better for profit than 50%.
The alcohol industry would mount opposition to lower BAC levels for driving as that would clearly discourage drinking away from home where driving is involved. They could not, with a clear conscience and without attack from MADD or SAAD, advocate against zero tolerance for underage drinkers.

3. Restrictions on Access to Alcohol
Restrictions to access to alcohol, such as not serving or selling alcohol to minors, training employees to “cut off” drunk patrons and commencing government-owned monopolies for alcohol sales, are proven methods for reducing alcohol-related harms Babor et al. (2003). Government-run monopolies have been shown to decrease alcohol consumption by restricting access to alcohol by location, hours and licensing. With less access to alcohol there is actually less drinking. It is a simple idea, but often difficult to enforce. Placing restrictions on premises where alcohol is consumed also helps reduce consumption provided that the consequences of not following the laws are swift and severe enough to encourage compliance with the laws. Room et al. (2005). Individual states should be encouraged to put these practices into place as pilot projects, with emphasis on those states more isolated by their borders, such as Hawaii and Alaska.

    Public Support

Public support would be strong for measures aimed at not serving alcohol to minors but probably not as strong for restricting hours and locations of alcohol sales. The convenience of being able to buy alcohol at every gas station, grocery store, convenience store and department store has people accustomed to a certain ease of purchasing. Changing sales of alcohol to a central location with restricted hours of operation would ignite a public outcry. 65% of the adult population drinks alcohol and they would most likely not support a restriction on the purchase alcohol.
A restriction on serving alcohol to drunk patrons is already in place in most locations, but the enforcement could be increased drastically. This restriction would not meet much criticism as public intoxication has never been highly favored or supported.

    Alcohol Industry

The alcohol industry would not favor restrictions on alcohol selling and purchasing as their sales would decrease. Profit is their motive and restricted sales mean restricted profits. They would attack these measures as restrictions on our freedoms and liberties, while they are actually not a restriction at all on drinking, just on purchasing.

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Filed under: Society

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