TEEN DRINKING AND DRIVING - Research Paper Example

As a result, this paper, therefore, explores the issues that are concerned with these problems, the consequences, and suggestions on the best way forward. Background Information Most states within US have a zero tolerance when it comes to teenage drinking where some states even have an outline of the maximum blood and alcohol concentration levels for teenagers. As such, the limit is set to be at 0.001% for all teenage drivers, which translates to no drinking. The law does not allow teenagers and other persons who may not have attained the required drinking age of 21 in all the states to purchase alcoholic beverage or to be found in possession of alcoholic beverages.

However, the CDC reports that teenagers in the United States abuse of Alcohol more than tobacco and other illegal drugs, which proves it beyond reasonable doubt that indulgence in alcohol and subsequent driving under the influence of alcohol poses serious problems to them and the society. In addition, CDC reports that the number (percentage) of teenagers who are in high school indulging in alcohol abuse, and driving under the influence of alcohol has reduced by more than half since 1991. . However, CDC provides facts on teenage drinking in the United States showing that the rate of teenagers who are driving under the influence of alcohol, or who are driving, as well as consuming alcohol to have reduced by 54 per cent as from 1991 (“Teen drinking and driving”).

Currently, the number of high school teenagers engaging in drunk driving is reportedly about 2.4 million persons every month. In the year 2010, reports indicate that one in every five teenage drivers, who were involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents, had alcohol in their blood streams. These important research findings shows that big strides have been taken to eliminate this problem from the society, but a lot needs to be done to reduce it further and consequently eliminate the menace. It has been suggested in some quarters that the key to eliminating the menace revolves around involving the parents of teenagers, lowering the minimum drinking age, and enacting punitive laws that are zero tolerant amongst others.

It has also been suggested that the driving licensing system should adopt the graduated driving licensing system (Peden et al 112). Minimum Drinking Age In the United States, the minimum drinking Age is 21, as opposed to most countries that have set their drinking age at 18, but there have been considerations by most states to lower the drinking age to below 21. Many young people indulging in alcohol abuse and driving under the influence of alcohol most often undergo painful consequences, which have raised concerns as to whether lowering the minimum drinking age is likely to lead to a reduction of the occurrences or eliminate the problem altogether.

Maisto et al 417 showed that in 1999, the minimum drinking age in New Zealand was lowered from 20 to18. Consequently, in the