After admitting drunk driving in the court proceeding, famous England footballer David Bentley has been banned for driving for one year. Footballer pleaded guilty during the hearing at St Albans Magistrates’ Court. It is worth pointing that David Bentley crashed his Porsche into a lamp post after heavily drinking at a gig in London. According to media reports, 24 year old footballer has 51 mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. In terms of statistic, it was way beyond the legal limit of 35.

Although, David is quite brilliant in football field but his drinking record is not that good. Not so long ago, Tottenham Hotspur coach Harry Redknapp asked Bentley to control his drinking habits. But looks like, Bentley ignored his coach advice. Playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, David Bentley has not found regular place in the starting line up of Tottenham Hotspur this season.

At the time of arrest, Bentley told law enforcement officials that he had parked his car at the railway station while at the gig with friends. Initially, Bentley was looking to go home with taxi but later on change his mind and decided to drive by himself as he was worried about the security of his car.

After being arrested for drunk driving, David Bentley had suffered some serious consequences. His club Tottenham Hotspur has fined Bentley of two weeks wages while sportswear company Puma has scrapped the commercial contract with the footballer.

David Bentley is not happy with the driving ban because his partner is pregnant and therefore he need to drive for regular checkup and other routines. In his judgment, district judge has said that David Bentley can get three month deduction in the driving ban but that will only happen when he is ready to participate in a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Drunk driving is quite prevalent among soccer players, commonly using it as a medium to get rid of the stress that is associated with this profession. What these players do not realize is the fact that how dangerous it is for other people and more importantly for their well being. Any injury because of accident can have a negative impact on their career. Coming back from the injury is real tough for any football player as building match fitness takes plenty of time. Youngsters all around the world treat football players as their idol and therefore when stars like David Bentley are arrested for drunk driving, it creates a bad example.

Drunk Driving

Drunken driving menace has grown over the years inspite of growing DWI legislations and regulations to curtail the very act of drinking while driving. The most threatening ones are underage drinking, teenage drunk driving and the mother of all the alcohol abuse.

People found drinking and driving are subjected to a number of Field Sobriety Tests such as Breathalyzer, Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and certain other on the spot test and convicted under DWI offense under the driving laws of the state once they are found crossing permissible legal limits.

With Zero Tolerance Test and Legal Minimum Drinking Age regulations, underage drinking and teenage drinking and driving is kept under control. But again we cannot be sure about how long such regulations stand effective.

While it is the duty of the legal system and police to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country, nothing is possible without people’s cooperation and assistance. Unless we help them in pointing out the danger they can hardly help us.

Your Action can Help Police Stop Drunken Driving

An action helping the police get rid of drinking and driving menace is one great thing that can happen provided we individuals understand the meaning and importance of it. It is practically not possible for the law enforcement officials to be everywhere to book people under DWI offense. It is only with the help of responsible and observant drivers and pedestrians who can actually help make roads safe for everyone.

The first thing that you should be noting down is the phone number you should be calling to inform about the intoxicated driving. Call 911 if you happen to see some one weaving on road, swerving, braking abruptly, appears to be heavily intoxicated, stopping without reason on a traffic lane, crossing traffic all of a sudden, responding very slowly to traffic signals, conducting the vehicle rapidly, drifting away, driving on a route other than the designated one, inconsistency in signaling without proper response, taking an unreasonably wide turn, rash driving almost hitting an object or vehicle, taking illegal turns on road.

When you call the enforcement officials make sure you inform them about the whereabouts of the location you are calling from, the direction of your travel, vehicle description and the driving license number on the plate if is possible. Your duty stops in informing the officials and you are no way expected to interfere with the driver or stop him whatsoever. Make sure you do not get into the scene provided you are a victim of any mishap.

Consequences of Drinking and Driving – DWI Offense

Driving laws of the state make it clear that if a person is found driving the vehicle under intoxication and tests reveal intoxication beyond the legally permitted limits then he will be convicted under DWI offense under the DWI laws of the state for alcohol abuse and drunk driving. Depending upon the extent of damage caused and level of intoxication revealed through BAC and other tests the punishment is determined which involves fine, imprisonment and alcohol treatment programs.

Will you lend your helping hand in saving the life of atleast one person? Do you think it will help?

Is US Military Bound by the Legal Drinking Age of the State?

This seems to be a very valid question! We all know that every state in the US has a regulation on the legal minimum drinking age. When individuals below the legal drinking age are found consuming alcohol, they are convicted and subjected to trial in a court of law. What happens when in comes to the US military personnel? Are they bound by the laws of the state in which they have set their base or do they have an altogether different ruling?

According to an article posted in a website exclusively meant for alcohol related queries. A nationwide non scientific poll was conducted which reported that every seven out of the eight people from a group of 1,323 respondents voted for consumption of alcohol by military personnel irrespective of their age.

Military Personal and Drinking Laws

While traditionally military personnel were allowed to drink while on any federal military installations, during later eighties the government was forced to stop it. According to the Federal Law of United States Code the military personnel are required to adopt the law of the state in which they have set up their military installations. However there are exceptions to this rule. Where the military installations are set up at a place which is situated within 50 miles from countries like Mexico or Canada or a state which imposes a lower drinking age they can adopt the lower age limit.

The Zero Tolerance Test

You must be aware that the states have a number regulations like the Field Sobriety Tests through which they control Alcohol Abuse on road. Blood Alcohol Content Test or the BAC test is conducted on those, who are suspected to have drunk and where the results exceed the permitted levels, they are convicted and are subjected to further investigations. Zero Tolerance Test is prescribed for those individuals who are below the legal drinking age. Any amount of intoxication found in their body will lead to conviction.

While complying with the rules the military personnel are also required to abide by the drinking laws of the state and are subject to legal drinking age requirements, BAC and Zero Tolerance Test. The Department of Defense (DOD) codification talks about the adoption of a lower drinking age of the state or the jurisdiction of Mexico or Canada where the DOD installation is situated within 50 miles from Mexico or Canada.

Legal Drinking Age – Outside the US

The Department of Defense DOD installations located outside the US shall carry a minimum legal drinking age of 18 years for military personnel. Any higher age will depend upon the agreements, treaties and the given situation subject to the discretion of the installation commander.

Further information on this topic is welcome; please post your opinions and information on this forum for the benefit of everyone.