Posts Tagged ‘Underage Drinking’

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Do Teenagers Drink for Pleasure or Peer Pressure?

Posted on Jul 25, 2011

Teenagers spend much of their time with their friends. This means that their friends have a big influence over them. This peer pressure can be a negative or positive influence on teens. The type of friends they have could lead them to drinking and many other bad habits,because most teenagers do not drink for pleasure; they do it due to peer pressure.

Do Teenagers Drink for Pleasure or Peer Pressure

Teenage Risk Taking and Peer Pressure Leads to Drinking

Teenagers partake in many risky behaviors when they are trying to discover themselves and find an identity of their own. This sometimes leaves them very susceptible to testing substances that can be harmful to them. Peer pressure can add negative consequences to this situation. Underage drinking is predisposed to other unsafe practices and conditions like:

Unprotected earlier sex
Lower self-esteem
Behavior issues
School performance issues
Depression

Communication is the Key to Prevent Drinking in Teens

Parents that are successful in steering their teenagers away from these and other harms communicate with their teens. Communication minimizes the chances of teens being vulnerable to harmful peer pressures. This can stop them from picking up bad habits like drinking. Teens that have parents and close relatives who communicate with them frequently are less likely to try smoking, drinking and drugs.

Steer Teens Away from Drinking and Other Harmful Behaviors

Parents must instruct them on how to stay away from circumstances where alcohol is around and how to handle the situation positively. This will counter act the negative influences of peer pressure.

Parental Influence over Teenagers and Drinking

Parents can also assist them with choosing friends that are not into bad habits. Parents have a lot more positive influence over their teenagers than they realize even when they are not physically around. However, this is only possible if they take the time to exercise the natural authority and influence they have.

Speak with Teenagers and Get Help with Drinking Behaviors

Moms and Dads must speak with their teenagers if they suspect that they are being negatively influenced by their peers to drink or to take part in anything negative. For severe problems,take an appointment with a medical professional that knows how to deal with teenagers. Take advantage of psychologist, counselors, or anyone that your teenager can build a relationship with to work out their problems.

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