Effects of Juvenile DWI

Driving While Intoxicated not only affects adults; many juveniles who have not reached the legal age for drinking choose to get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. Drinking and driving is very dangerous for adults and juveniles. Juveniles are not as experienced behind the wheel and are not able to make responsible decisions when they are intoxicated.

Most days, at least nine juveniles die because of an alcohol related issue. Three out of the nine were related to DUI. About 38% of youths killed in traffic accidents in 2003 died due to alcohol-related incidents.

College Students and Drunk Driving

A poll of college students in 2001 revealed that 26% of underage drinkers have driven while intoxicated. Of those students, 10% said they had driven after drinking five drinks. Almost 25% of the students related that they routinely ride with someone who is drunk or high within in a month of the poll.

Lack of Understanding for Driving While Intoxicated

In 2000, drivers under 21 made up 7% of the total number of licensed drivers however, they accounted for 13% of drunk driving deaths in that year. Most youths don’t realize or understand the effects that blood alcohol content has on the brain and body and how drinking affects the way they drive a car. Because of the greater death rates associated with juvenile drinking and driving, most states have stricter laws to discourage underage drinkers from drinking and driving.

Recent studies have shown that states in which “zero tolerance” laws have been implemented see a decrease in the likelihood of binge drinking behavior (more than 5 drinks per sitting) among boys aged 18 – 20 by 13%.

Sad Reality of DWI Convictions

Since 1984, when the drinking age of 21 became federal law, it is estimated that thousands of lives have been saved each year. But, because of negligence and loopholes in laws in certain states, it is still relatively easy for people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol to the point of intoxication. The sad truth is that underage drunk driving will remain a problem and cause needless deaths for as long as alcohol is available for juveniles.

Here is a list of drinking games popular with college or university students. Students play these drinking games at home, at the bar or at college parties. Remember to drink responsibly and if you drink, don’t drive and put your life or others in danger.

1. Kings Cup:

Kings Cup is good for big drinking groups. This game is not only fun and entertaining to most, but it will get you drunk, so if that is what your goal is, let the games begin!

How to play: Place cards face down in a circle around a beer, whoever draws the 4th King has to chug the beer. This game has many variations.

2. Beer Pong:

Beer pong is a test to see what skills you have while drunk and how good your aim is after being a bit tipsy.

How to play: To play beer pong (also known as Beirut), approximately 6 to 10 cups are partially filled with beer and placed in a diamond shape at each end of the beer pong table. The first player throws a ping-pong ball across the table with the intent of landing the ball in a cup of beer on the opposite side. If a ping-pong ball lands in the opposing player’s cup, that player has to drink the beer and the cup is eliminated. The player with the most cups left at the end wins.

3. Flip Cup:

If you are energetic and like doing active things, Flip Cup might just be the game for you. This is a very competitive game and is lots of fun!

How to play: Flip cup is a drinking relay race. Two teams with an equal number of players line up on opposite sides of a table facing each other. At The first player on each team chugs their beer out of their cup. When finished, the cup is set at the edge of the table and the player attempts to flip the cup to make it land face down on the table, on its’ mouth. The player cannot use both hands or make any attempts to guide the cup to flip over. Only after the player has landed the cup successfully, can the next person proceed. The team that finishes drinking and flipping all their cups first wins.

4. High or Low – card game:

This game requires a deck of cards. You begin by turning over the card one by one. You guess if the nest card will be higher or lower; if you guess wrong you drink.

5. 3Man-Dice game:

3Man is a pretty simple game. If the dice lands on 3, you drink.

6. Shotgun:

Shotgun is a drinking race game to see who can drink the fastest.

7. Presidents & A**holes – card game:

The idea of this game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards to become a President. The player who finishes last is the A**hole.

8. Quarters:

Quarters is a popular drinking game that tests your ability and accuracy by bouncing a quarter off a table and into another player’s cup. The player bouncing the quarter is called the “shooter”. There are different ways of playing this game.

A Few Facts about Driving While Intoxicated

• In 2004 approximately 17,000 people in the United States died of alcohol-related auto accidents.
• A DWI conviction will get you jail time, your insurance policy revoked and more.
• Your DUI record is kept by law enforcement agencies, the legal system and the department of motor vehicles (DMV) and can affect your life even years after the conviction.

Keep these facts in mind before you play drinking games and then take the wheel. Always have a designated driver!

In the wake of realizing the serious consequences of drunken driving offences, several measures are being taken both the government and private agencies to curb the incidence of drinking and driving accidents. One such measure is the introduction of Ignition Locks in vehicles that will not allow the vehicle to start where the driver tests alcohol in his breathe.

Ignition Locks Mandate for First Time DWI Offenders

Have you ever been convicted under a DWI charge? There are 8 states in the nation that have mandated the fixing of ignition locks in the vehicles of those who have been convicted under DWI charge even once. Usage of ignition locking devices is seen more as a preventive measure than a penalty imposition.


By mandating the fixing of Ignition locks in the vehicles, it amounts to the cars preventing the driver from driving it when he/she is under the influence of alcohol. States namely Nebraska, Illinois, Alaska, Washington and Colorado have joined the bandwagon of mandating Ignition locking devices in the vehicles of those who have been convicted under the DWI legalities even once. Arizona, Louisiana and New Mexico are the first three states to introduce this mandate, out of which New Mexico is the first state to introduce this rule in early 2005. With the current count of states mandating ignition locks increasing to 8, even first time offenders are required to fix an ignition locking device in their vehicle in these 8 states.


A few organizations especially the liquor industry has expressed its opposition to the introduction of mandatory ignition locks in the vehicles. According to the American Beverage Institute (ABI), inspite of their support to the usage of ignition devices for repeat offenders, first time offender rule was not in consensus with them. According to Sarah Longwell of ABI the freedom of having a sip of wine or champagne at a party or wedding is being greatly restricted because of this rule.

Reduced DWI Fatal Accidents

Considering the fact that ignition interlock devices are rarely prescribed by the law, many organizations especially MADD have been demanding for introducing ignition locks even for the first time offenders and have so far been successful in 8 states across the nation.


The state of South Carolina has introduced mandate of ignition lock devices for repeat DWI offenders. It is the only state in the nation that has introduced the mandate for repeat offenders.


Ignition Lock Devices have been successful in reducing the chances of fatal DWI accidents thereby curbing the bane of drunken driving right at its inception. There is a 20% drop in the number of DWI deaths in the country with the help of ignition lock devices.


Sometimes we are left with limited options to curb the growing menace of DWI accidents and ignition lock devices is one such effective instrument to stop drunken driving accidents right in the beginning. If you disagree with this view point write to us with reasoning.     ]]> http://www.aboutdwi.com/blog/ignition-lock/feed/ 4