Teen Drinking and Driving

1742 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of drinking alcohol essay

Now-a-days teens watch TV and believe anything they see on television. “Professional Athletes don’t cause more DUI Fatalities than other American—they just make more headlines (Lake, 2013) EBSCOHOST). So seeing someone famous drinking and then hoping in the car under the influence and beganing to drive with no worries, teens think it is okay. Excuses and false assurance are major reasons teens believe they can drink. People believe they will not get caught and that they have complete control of any situation while under the influence. They say that a few drinks will not hurt them and they will be fine, were they are going is not that far; they all just think of something to convince people that they will be okay, when in reality they are not. To really understand why drinking and driving is so dangerous; one must learn how alcohol affects the body, brain and driving ability. Alcohol affects males and females differently. According to the article it states “In general, older men are more likely to drink alcohol compared with older women. But women of all ages are often more sensitive than men to the effects of alcohol. Women's bodies tend to break alcohol down more slowly. Also, women have less water in their bodies than men, so alcohol becomes more concentrated. As a result, women may become more impaired than men after drinking the same amount. That is why the recommended drinking limit for women is lower than for men” (NIH Senior Health, 2012). “Statistics show that “Once alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream, it works to slow the functioning of the central nervous system” (Mendralla & Grosshandler, 2012). It states that “A drink of alcohol stays in the body for about 2 hours after being consumed” (NIH Senior Health, 20... ... middle of paper ... ... Traffic Offender Program, pay a $45 reinstatement fee, and provide SR-22 proof of insurance for two years. The conviction will not be erased from your driving record” (DUI & DWI in Missouri) Through the entire process citizens are entitled to basic Miranda Rights. Citizens have the right to an attorney when they are stopped for a DUI investigation. It says “Most people don’t realize that they have the option, that they have the right. They also tend to disregard that, despite being told by the officer when they read Miranda rights, that they a right to remain silent. Anything they can say will be used against them in a court of law” (Law office of Brian Douglas Sloan). Many people believe that drunk driving is a big deal and many think that it’s a personal choice in what people choice to do with their lives and if it endangers them or someone then it’s on them.

Show More
Related

  • Keeping the Drinking Age at 21 and Saving Some Lives

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each year, about 5,000 teens are killed or injured in traffic crashes as a result of underage drinking and about 1,900 are due to car accidents. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation) In the newsletter, safety in numbers by National highway traffic administration and U.S department of transportation “Of all the people who died in motor vehicle crashes during 2012, 31 percent died in crashes involving a drunk driver, and this percentage remains unchanged for the past 10 years” (Vol 1, 2013). Crashes involving alcohol include fatal crashes in which a driver had a BAC of .01 g/ ld. or higher (Underage Drinking Statistics)). Deadly crashes involving alcohol are twice as common in teens compared to people 21 and older. This is because teens’ judgment skills are harmed more by alcohol. Teens who drink not only risk hurting themselves, they risk hurting their friends, family, and even strangers when driving intoxicated. Teens and parents both need a strong reminder that underage drinking is illegal and can have disastrous consequences. According to Health Day News, “one study found that in 2011, 36 percent of U.S. college students said they'd gone binge drinking (five or more drinks in one sitting) within the past two weeks, as compared to 43 percent of college students in 1988. Since 2006, the current law has reduced the rate of drunk driving crashes among young Americans” (Preidt, 2014 and DeJong, 2014). This proves that lives have been saved after the legal drinking age increased. According to an article in Time Magazine called “Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?”, “lowering the drinking age to 18 would stop infantilizing college students, but it would probably kill mor...

    Read More

  • Underage Drinking Research Paper

    721 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States. There are more than 5,000 deaths of people below the age of 21 every year due to underage drinking. Many teens drink due to stress or difficult home life. Underage drinking can affect all aspects of life, including physical, psychological, and even your social life.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Teenage Driving

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 21st century, our nation is facing a major issue, causing teenagers to lose their lives at the hand of the wheel due to inexperienced driving. “Teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to be involved in an automobile crash,” and statistics show. Automobile accidents are the number one cause of teen deaths. Driving regulations are in high need to be changed in order for teenagers to gain more experience with driving before taking the driving test, which could help save countless adolescence’s lives.

    Read More

  • Teen Drinking

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    The article "Alcohol Abuse is a Serious Problem for Teenagers," was written by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The article states, "Nearly four million young people suffer from alcohol dependence," and the average age at which children begin to drink is as early as 13. The article goes on to say that the number of children who experiment with alcohol has been rising steadily over the years. The article points out the unfortunate effects of drinking which range from an array of physical illnesses like liver problems and cancer. From the article we learn that because teenagers tend to indulge in binge drinking, they are at higher risk to suffer the consequences of alcohol consumption. According to the article these consequences include developmental problems like lack of growth, a reduced ability to learn, and to psychological problems like depression and suicidal tendencies. Alcohol abuse in turn leads to social problems which include dropping out of school, robbery, and "risky sexual behavior." We learn that alcohol serves as a "gateway-drug," leading to more addictive drugs like cocaine. The article substantiates this claim by citing a study conducted by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The article also touches on the problem of alcohol used by parents though the primary focus of this piece is about teenage drinking. The purpose of the article is to jolt readers into an awareness of the magnitude of the problem of teenage drinkiing. Most people know that teenagers like to experiment, try the new and forbidden, but the Center assumes that no one is fully aware of how serious this problem can be if it is not addressed.

    Read More

  • Teenage Alcohol Abuse

    2203 Words  | 5 Pages

    Teenage alcohol abuse is one of the major problems that affect academic performance, cause health problems and is responsible for the death of teenage drivers and sometime their passengers. Many teens drink because they think it is cool and do not understand the dangers of drinking alcohol. In 2008 a survey on the students views on alcohol was conducted in the Atlanta Public School System of 4,241 students surveyed results showed 74% of sixth graders felt there was a health risk while 25% felt there was no health risk; 81% of eighth graders felt there was a health risk, while 19% felt there was none; 82% of tenth graders felt there was a health risk, while 18% felt there was none, and 84% of twelve graders felt there was a health risk, while 15% felt there was none. Given these results on average of all grades, 20% of the students surveyed were unaware of the dangers of alcohol use. If one calculates, using the formular of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2003), “three teens are killed each day when they drink alcohol and drive. At least six more die every day from other alcohol-related causes” (table 79). The impact of this student population’s lack of knowledge equates to 49 of those students per week who most likely will die because they do not understand the dangers of alcohol.2

    Read More

  • Explain Why Some Teenagers Do Not Think About The Consequences Of Their Actions

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    It only takes that one drink to be intoxicated and they're driving ability is not the best, going back home from the party. Teens do not think twice of what danger they are putting them or others in, when they get into the car. Either it be death or a life changing event. This all could have been different if teenagers think about they're careless actions ahead of time. Teens make careless actions.

    Read More

  • Lowering The Drinking Age Essay

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... Young adults of minimum age 18 are more likely to drink than young adults older than 18 (Dee and Evans). Binge driving, physical fighting, poor school performance, sexual activity and smoking are mainly all the issues associated with drinking (CDC). Teen drinking is not something that is cool, just to fit in with a group of friends or people, when deciding to get on the road think before you act. Is drinking under the influence worth risking innocent people's lives, yours and also your entire future?

    Read More

  • Adolescence, Alcohol and Driving

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    The media's view of adolescence, alcohol and driving is extremely clear. Almost every article, report or documentary on these things (especially when they are combined) portrays irresponsibility, danger and/or violence and aggression. To put it more clearly the media's view on the situation that occurs or can occur when adolescents are left to make their own decisions or choices is that any given adolescent will choose to drink alcohol and most likely choose to drive while under the influence. Here are a few examples (extracted from articles, publications and the web) of how the media views adolescents, alcohol and driving: · Use of alcohol and other drugs is associated with the leading causes of death and injury (eg. vehicle crashes) among teenagers and young adults. (Centers for Disease Control {CDC}, "Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among High School Students--United States, 1990," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report {MMWR}, 11/91, p. 776).

    Read More

  • Alcohol and Teen Drinking

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Men’s Health, “alcohol kills more teenagers and young people than any of the other drugs taken to affect mood and behavior (heroin, cocaine, marijuana).” This issue interests me due to the many friends I have who drink overwhelmingly. Also, I have so many cousins that are younger than me that I am concerned about with this issue. There are many reasons to why teens may drink, not all of which are reasonable but is the truth, from what I know. Teen drinking can also result in very many mishaps that are mostly a terrible consequence.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Drinking And Driving

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    Driving under the influence is one of the most common and dangerous situations in which anyone can be or be placed. Drinking and driving is a serious offence that can cause someone to be physically harm or even killed. Not only are you putting yourself at risk but you are also risking the lives of passengers in the car as well as any other car and occupants sharing the road with you. Many people believe that increasing fines for drunk driving offenders will play a compelling role in cutting down the occurrences of driving under the influence. However, while harsher DUI laws will look effective on paper, they will not make a significant step in the fight against drunk driving. Although there is a law enforced for drinking and driving in the

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Drinking Age

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    Young drivers (ages 16-20) are 17 times more likely to die in a crash when they have a blood alcohol concentration of .08% than when they have not been drinking. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) With that being said, it goes to show that teens already cannot handle drinking and how much problems that have are already came about and will prolong about unless the law stay the same. Good amount of families and friends have already lost their children due to countless of fatal car crashes being under the influence and alcohol abuse from consuming too much. One night, Reggie Stephey 18 years young, he was driving home and he had been drinking. Less than a mile from his driveway, Reggie drifted across the center stripe and hitting Natalia Bennett head on also heading home from a birthday party in Austin, with 4 other passengers Natalia Bennett and her Laura Guerrero died at the scene. It was a little past 4:00 in the morning on Sunday, September 19, 1999. ) Instantly like that someone can lose his or her life just for not making such and irresponsible choice. We need to prevent things from happening like this some because it is not getting any

    Read More

  • The War Against Underage Drinking

    2500 Words  | 5 Pages

    Even though alcohol is illegal for people under the age of twenty-one, adolescents have twice the number of fatal drunk driving accidents than drivers over the age of twenty-one. Everyday three teens die from drinking and driving (Alcohol Alert). These statistics are incredible, considering that alcohol is illegal for these teens. Can you imagine what would happen if it was legal for these teens to drink?... ...

    Read More

  • Drinking And Driving

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    The biggest problem with drunk driving by young adults is the high rate of traffic accidents. Although young drivers ages 16 through 25 makeup only 15% of U.S. licensed drivers, they constitute 30 percent of all alcohol-related driving fatalities. This is double the amount of licensed drivers in that age group. Inexperience with both drinking and driving may contribute to this disproportionate rate. Nationwide in 1996, people ages 15 to 24 died in fatal motor vehicle crashes and 45 percent of those deaths were a result of alcohol (NHTSA 4). So it comes to no surprise that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people younger than 25 (NCHS 98).

    Read More

  • DUI Case Study

    1586 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the past few years there has been people getting pulled over for drinking under the influence. It is really dangerous for anyone to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Anyone who does this could endanger his or her life including others. There are so many people who has lost their lives because people want to make a mistake by driving under the influence not thinking twice about what could happened to them or other people. People don’t know that if they get caught driving for DUI then it stays on their record forever.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Teenage Drinking And Driving

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every teen waits with anticipation for their sixteenth birthday. They have so much to celebrate. A birthday for starters, a ‘new’ car, new places to go, no more relying on parents and a new lease on life. But with this new lease on life comes more dangers, car accidents and underage drinking. Anna Quindlen talks about raising the driving age to prevent these dangers, while Brandon Griggs says to lower the drinking age to take away the excitement of drinking and to prevent binge drinking on college campuses. Raising the driving age will diminish quality of life for teens, and lowering the drinking age will lessen the excitement of alcohol to maintain quality of life.

    Read More

More about Teen Drinking and Driving

Open Document