The Effects of Underage Drinking and Driving While Under the Influence
The Effects of Underage Drinking and Driving While Under the Influence
Heather Herrick
Dr. Hawkins
ENC1101
November 27, 2012
ABSTRACT:
Underage drinking is one of the biggest problems in society today (“Enforcing”). Throughout childhood, the brain is making changes that assist in planning, decision making, controlling impulses, memory, speech and also how the body responds to drugs and alcohol (“NIAAA”). Not only does underage drinking cause problems with brain development and unprotected sex, but it also causes various fatalities. The purpose for this research is to help prevent underage drinking and driving while under the influence of alcohol and to reduce the number of fatalities not only in Volusia County but also throughout the United States.
According to the West Volusia Beacon, bars and restaurants in downtown Deland were caught selling to people under the age of 21. Since then, the City Commission has passed an ordinance to penalize any bar or restaurant that is caught with five or more people under the age of 21 inside their facility after nine o’clock within a three month period, or if there are five or more people who are underage caught with a drink in their hand. Bar and restaurant owners agree that underage drinking has a negative effect on their business. Older folk don’t want to be surrounded by a college “frat-boy” atmosphere and that is why they stay away from the downtown area. Officials believe that if penalties are executed and enforced the right way that is the only way this ordinance will work (Horton).
Nationally, making new laws and better enforcing older laws by using the EUDL (Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws) have helped prevent underage drinking. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Congress created this program in 1998 along with the MLDA-21 and Zero Tolerance Laws, which prohibit the sale and possession of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. These laws also help prevent the amount of drivers on
Heather Herrick
Dr. Hawkins
ENC1101
November 27, 2012
ABSTRACT:
Underage drinking is one of the biggest problems in society today (“Enforcing”). Throughout childhood, the brain is making changes that assist in planning, decision making, controlling impulses, memory, speech and also how the body responds to drugs and alcohol (“NIAAA”). Not only does underage drinking cause problems with brain development and unprotected sex, but it also causes various fatalities. The purpose for this research is to help prevent underage drinking and driving while under the influence of alcohol and to reduce the number of fatalities not only in Volusia County but also throughout the United States.
According to the West Volusia Beacon, bars and restaurants in downtown Deland were caught selling to people under the age of 21. Since then, the City Commission has passed an ordinance to penalize any bar or restaurant that is caught with five or more people under the age of 21 inside their facility after nine o’clock within a three month period, or if there are five or more people who are underage caught with a drink in their hand. Bar and restaurant owners agree that underage drinking has a negative effect on their business. Older folk don’t want to be surrounded by a college “frat-boy” atmosphere and that is why they stay away from the downtown area. Officials believe that if penalties are executed and enforced the right way that is the only way this ordinance will work (Horton).
Nationally, making new laws and better enforcing older laws by using the EUDL (Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws) have helped prevent underage drinking. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Congress created this program in 1998 along with the MLDA-21 and Zero Tolerance Laws, which prohibit the sale and possession of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. These laws also help prevent the amount of drivers on
Cited: “Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws.” CSPI Alcohol Policy. Web. 10 Oct.2012 “FloridaCHARTS.com-Florida Health Statistics and Community Health Data.” Florida Department of Health. Web. 10 Oct. 2012 “Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.” Web. 10. Oct. 2012 “New Nationwide Report Estimates That 40 Percent of Underage Drinkers Received Free Alcohol From Adults Over 21.” SAMHSA. 28. June. 2008. Web. 10 Oct. 2012 “Florida’s Enforcement of Underage Drinking.” Moses & Rooth, Attorneys at Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. “Other Laws.” Laws Regarding Drugs, Alcohol and Driving. Web. 10 Oct. 2012 "Underage Drinking & the Law." Underage Drinking & the Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. “City Cracks down on Underage Drinking." The Famuan. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. "College Rankings - Most Raging Party Scene in Florida." College Prowler. N.p., n.d. Web Horton, Jen. "DeLand Cracks down on Underage Drinking - The West Volusia Beacon." Deland Cracks down on Underage Drinking - The West Volusia Beacon. The West Volusia Beacon, 15 July 2009. Web. 07 Nov. 2012.