Bottoms Up

Last semester, the” Know When to Pass” campaign came to College Station to try to reduce the drinking and driving occurrence. According to the Texas Transportation Institute Senior Research Specialist Bernie Fette, "Texas is among the top 10 states in two categories – when considering alcohol-related driving fatalities as a percentage of all fatalities, and when considering the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers.” Obviously this is an important issue that needs more acknowledgement.  The Battalion, Texas A&M’s newspaper, covered the story: http://www.thebatt.com/news/a-m-to-get-lesson-on-drinking-and-driving-1.1785820

While being featured in the top 10 states in consideration to alcohol related incidences is not something to be proud of, we know the problem is well spread through much of the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 52% of adults 18 years and older in the US are considered regular drinkers. Notice how the statistic is for adults 18 and older, even though the nation has a minimum drinking age of 21. That alone states that while its illegal for minors to consume alcohol, its understood and accepted that minors do partake in consumption. No wonder alcohol has become such a staple for college aged students! Everyone knows it’s going on, but there is no way to put a complete stop to it or control it much more than the government tries to control it today. I was curious about the number of deaths related to alcohol in the entire US after reading about the top 10 states in alcohol related driving fatalities. I was shocked that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of alcohol-induced deaths, excluding accidents and homicides was 23,199. That shows the impact of alcohol loud and clear.

Sadly not all have noticed how serious of an issue drinking and driving can be, A less fortunate example of expanding technology is having an App for everything, literally. Fox News recently published a story about DUI Checkpoint Apps which provides other drivers with information about where a checkpoint may be to warn them to avoid that route when under the influence and driving. This encourages drinking and driving and is definitely not a way to make the roads safer.

I often hear my friends mention how Texas needs to lower the drinking age because minors drink anyway, or they get their older friends to buy it for them, or clubs don’t really care as long as they get their money, etc. While I see their point, I also wonder if they know why exactly the drinking age is set where it is and that the government didn’t set it at that age to be cruel. It was set there to protect us.