Persuasive Essay On Drinking And Driving

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The combination of driving an automobile after drinking a significant amount of alcohol has been recognized as a serious problem since the motor car was invented in the 1880s. By 1910, the law in the United States had already codified drunk driving as a misdemeanor offence. Prohibitionists used the danger created by mixing alcohol and driving as a key point in their argument in favor of the eighteenth amendment, as a result of which the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol was banned between 1920 and 1933. Apparently lessons were not learned and many decades later drunk driving has been called one of the most serious problems confronting America today” (Kinkade). This should not be a problem for any country as individuals should be able to control their drinking behavior. Approximately one-third of individuals arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in the United States are re-arrested, indicating that remedial interventions for DUI offenders are not completely effective. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data indicate that “21-48% of drivers arrested or convicted for DUI had previous offenses for alcohol-impaired driving” (Lapham). When it comes to drinking and driving, society tends to make psychiatric excuses for repeat offenders of alcohol abuse. They are at times labeled as stressed, unemployed, substance abusers, to name a few. Should society be making excuses for these repeat offenders or actively ensuring that they do not become a danger to themselves or innocent individuals on our roads? So much is spent on rehabilitating these DUI individuals but their nonchalant re-occurring actions prove that mandatory jail time should be instituted to curtail the negative and deadly behavior they por... ... middle of paper ... ...ught, he or she will not be severely punished. The unsupported threat of increased penalties is not sufficient to achieve long-term changes in habitual drinking and driving behavior. Experts believe that the prospect of jail time or revoking of driver’s license may be effective in getting the attention of the habitual drunk driver who has never been caught. “But unless treatment is available to capitalize on this attention, powerful habits will re-emerge as the memory of punishment fades” (Fields). Thus having a mandatory jail term system will significantly help to take the stance of “ZERO TOLERANCE” for individuals who believe that they can do as they please and drive while under the influence. Enough is enough and before any more innocent lives are lost, before any more property is carelessly destroyed, a stance must be taken to eradicate the disease called DUI.

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