Archive for the ‘Teenage Drunk Drivers’ Category

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Confession of an Alcoholic Mom – How I Finally Became Sober!

Posted on Jul 18, 2011

Every afternoon it was the same story. While the kids are taking their afternoon nap I would take a box of wine, and sip while watching Oprah and vegetate until the echoes came from the rooms down the hall letting me know that relaxing time was over. Yes, I was an alcoholic mom! This is the story of how I finally became sober.

Alcoholic Enabling Support System

I was like many mothers in my neighborhood. We all used drinking to help us cope with what we considered a mundane, angst-filled existence that was motherhood. We had built a form of a support system centered on our use of alcohol to self medicate ourselves.

Alcoholic’s Little Secret: Drinking

I look on those days with a kind of nostalgia. The sips of wine gave me the little push I needed to make it through the days of stroller pushing, boring conversations, daytime television, and temper tantrums. The alcohol was my little secret, my little indiscretion that helped me keep one foot in the outside adult-world.

Alcoholic Mantra: “I Drink In Moderation”

I justified everything by making myself the victim. So what if I drank a little to ease me through the day? “I am an oppressed stay-at-home mom. I drink in moderation.” My circle of friend felt the same way; we were our own pro-drinking support group.

Alcoholic Denial: “Don’t Judge Me”

There is nothing wrong with a little nip now and then, right? And if my “now and then” means ‘daily’ then what’s the big deal? I could stop at anytime. Besides, I was not dependent or anything like that. I wasn’t drunk driving or wallowing in the gutter. In my own mind, I used the popular catch phrase of the day: “don’t judge me” when talking to my own conscious. I am not an alcoholic!

Drinking and Driving – Not Me!

Then my little nips in the afternoon became nightcaps but I was still in control I could stop at anytime…until I could not. I began letting the nanny take the kids on outings because I couldn’t drive due to my drinking. I would stay home and sip homemade cocktails. When I saw myself missing parts of my children’s lives for drinking, I knew I had a problem.

Finally, I Sobered Up

Finally, I decided to go to a 12-step meeting. I found the support I needed to validate myself, and “my suburban stay-at-home lifestyle” that I had belittled so much in my own mind that I needed alcohol to cope with it. My family and my children are now my priority and I am not shamed about it. I am sober!

Alcohol Abuse, Teenage Drunk Drivers, Underage Drinking, Women HealthNo Comments »Alcohol Abuse Women Health

Underage Drinking & Parents’ Responsibility

Posted on Jun 27, 2011

Underage DWI is a very serious offense and the first Underage DWI conviction can lead to loss of full driving privileges, imprisonment and a considerable amount as fine. The underage drinking penalties and punishments are dependent on the state you are living in. You will face administrative suspension of your license if you are under the age of 21 for driving a vehicle with BAC of 0.02% or more.

Though the offense in considered to be neither a traffic infraction nor a criminal offense. However, if you submit the breath test and your BAC is over the legal limit then the first suspension under 21 is for six months and the second suspension under the age of 21 is of one year. In case you refuse to submit the breath test, then your license is suspended for one year and for the second time for 18 months. You will be arrested immediately for the next offense committed.

Parent’s Responsibilities for Underage Drinking

Though underage drinking has become quite common these days due to change in lifestyle, it is the responsibility of the parents to monitor the alcohol abuse by their teenager. Some parents feel it is safer for their teenager to drink at home rather than at parties. However, according to the social host liability laws, parents are responsible for underage drinking in their home. If a parent serves or provides alcohol to an underage drinker at their home, then he/she is liable to cause an accident and gets injured.

Apart from criminal charges, it can lead to a civil lawsuit if you allow your child under 21 to drink alcohol. Social host laws are dependent on the state where the underage lives but parents can be financially responsible for their child’s medical bills, property damage and pain and suffering if an accident is caused due to alcohol abuse.

Therefore, parents should be aware of the activities of their teenagers and discuss the effects of underage drinking and warn them about the consequences. It can affect their future and ruin their lives.

Teenage Drunk Drivers, Underage Drinking1 Comment »Parental Guidance Teenage Drunk Driving Underage Drinking

Teenage Drunk Drivers -What a DWI Can Do To You?

Posted on Jun 20, 2011

If you are a teenager under 21 years with a BAC of 0.02 and above, then you can be charged for DWI. This can have severe consequences and your license will be revoked. You will not be applicable for a restricted license for at least 60 days.

Statistics and Consequences of Teenage Drunk Driving

Various studies conducted on teenage drunk driving indicate a set of statistics and their consequences:

• One teenager is killed every hour due to drunk driving in the US
• At least 70% of teenagers have consumed alcohol before they turn 21years
• Teenage drunk driving occur during night time and when in the company of their friends
• 75% of teenage drivers involved in a drunk driving accident while not wearing seat belts.
• 1/4th of motor vehicle accidents are caused due to teenage drunk driving.
• Among the overall alcohol consumption, underage drinking is about 20% of the drinking population.

Effects of Teenage Drunk Driving

If you are a teenager and this is your first DWI offense, then you will have to take part in the Youthful Offender Substance Abuse Awareness in the state where you are living. It also includes a supervised educational tour to a medical center or an emergency care facility that receives vehicle accidents victims or to a morgue to receive appropriate educational material and instruction concerning damages caused by alcohol or other drugs.

Your driver’s license or operating privileges will be revoked administratively or by a court order if you are below 18 years. The revocation continues until the revocation expires or until you reach 18. If it is you first offense and if you are convicted, then your license gets suspended and you can apply for temporary restricted license.

Measures to Control Teenage Drunk Driving

Underage DWI can be risky to them as well as to others and it is very important that various measures are implemented to control teenage drunk driving like:

• Parent need to guide them and are able to play a vital role in making them understand the effects of drunk driving and the consequences of DWI.
• Various states have implemented harsh penalties on teenagers who involve in drinking and driving which discourage them against drunk driving.
• They should be aware that it is a crime to drink when they are a teenager and below 21
• Zero Tolerance law has also established in various states where teenagers below 21 years are not allowed to operate a vehicle while drunk and any alcohol found in their body can immediately lead to DWI offense
• DWI laws are very strict for teenage drunk driving and parents are also subject to conviction if they have provided the alcohol to them which led to the accident
• The punishments imposed on teenage drunk driving involve severe penalties like suspension of driving license, huge fines and jail term. It also requires compulsory attendance of alcohol treatment programs.

Teenage drunk driving is a serious offense and can lead to DWI with strict rules and regulations which can affect your life.

Alcohol Abuse, DWI, Teenage Drunk Drivers, Underage Drinking2 Comments »Alcohol Abuse DWI DWI offense Teenage Drunk Driver Underage Drinking