Drinking Age Laws and Behaviors in Canada and the US - Research Paper Example

Drinking Age Laws and Behavior in the USA and Canada Fahad Alharthi Utica College Alcohol consumption remains one of the most common activities and behavioral patterns all over the world. Canada and the USA have passed long alcohol history from its introduction by the colonists to its mass production by the states themselves. Both countries are not heavy drinkers compared to Europeans with generally decreased interest to alcohol beverages. The countries have the same predilections toward alcohol consuming, and drinking behaviors that are very much alike. Canadians and Americans consider alcohol as one of the factors of socialization and a necessary attribute of social events; alcohol consuming is not only an individual but also a social issue, as it involves social interaction. That is why the governments of the USA and Canada have implemented certain regulations in order to avoid negative consequences of alcohol abuse: age restrictions for alcohol consumption, strict penalties for drunk driving, and liability for serving alcohol to the intoxicated people. This essay looks at different approaches of governments and nations to the act of drinking from historical, social, and economic perspectives. Drinking Laws and Behavior in the USA and Canada Drinking alcohol is not only individual`s act but also a tradition, and a behavioral pattern of society. Since people socialize within different social layers, the meaning of drinking can be different from one group to another (Houghton & Roche, 2001). Alcohol consumption may greatly depend on traditions, ideologies, and customs (Houghton & Roche, 2001). Alcohol drinking is a common social experience in most human cultures and societies; nevertheless, the motives and functions for every separate individual are different. The ways in which individuals consume alcohol vary as much as cultural traditions of drinking. Alcohol in America Early History Alcohol has played important role in the life of the American society from the very first days of the republic. In Europe of the 16th century, drinking alcohol beverages was a daily routine due to high risk of water contamination. The first colonists brought alcohol on ships because it was easier to preserve it unspoiled. The beverages varied from rum received from West Indian sugar and homemade beer to wine brought from Europe (Tracy, 2005). However, drinking attracted public attention in the end of the 18th century due to numerous reasons. Firstly, alcohol consumption was connected to the salon culture, involving such additional negative social issues as gambling, fighting, and prostitution. Moreover, huge manufactures and factories wanted their workers to remain sober in the working time to increase the productivity. The appearance of the automobiles resulted in subsequent governmental laws’ introduction. Thus, the first law forbidding drunken driving was announced in 1910 in New York (Tracy, 2005). Prohibition, which was introduced in the beginning of WWI was aimed to keep the soldiers sober and avoid incidents and was quite efficient for the army. However, prohibition caused boost of bootlegging and home-made alcohol manufacture, and later in 1933 this law was terminated. (Tyrrell, Blocker et al., 2003). American Drinking Behaviors Americans say that alcohol consuming is connected to socializing as they mainly drink at the parties dedicated to special occasions. Alcohol consuming is habitual in the U.S., with 30% of Americans admitting having consumed alcohol, and two quarters saying that they had at least one drink over a past ten days. Americans prefer beer, followed closely by wine (Saad, 2012) Whiskey, champagne and vermouth share almost equal popularity among the drinkers. There is also special attitude to cyder which was traditionally home-made and consumed as a light drink even by children (Saad, 2012) The frequency and degree of drinking depends on the race, the age, and the education of the consumers. In the USA the most drinking races are American Indians or Native Americans. African Americans demonstrate the lowest degree of Alcohol consumption (Hanson, 2009). The social class and the education are also connected to the drinking habits. It was estimated that the lower the class of the people the more likely there will be abstainers, while education and higher income suggest more frequent alcohol consumption (Hanson, 2009). Women also drink considerably less than men (Hanson, 2009). Decline in Consumption The USA has long history of alcohol consuming, but total drinking has decreased over the last 20 years; according to one recent study. Alcohol consumption is down 23 percent in the last few decades (Tyrrell, Blocker et al., 2003). The decrease of alcohol consumption can be partially explained by raising the drinking age to twenty one, convincing and tough penalties in case of drunk driving, and increasing the responsibility of the restaurants owners whose clients are alcohol abusers (Tyrrell, Blocker et al., 2003). Drinking Age The National Minimum Drinking Age Act stipulated the legal age for alcohol consumption in the USA in 1984. It means that persons under 21 are not allowed to buy or use publicly alcohol beverages. The Act was accepted by all the states (Hanson, 1999). Before the setting 21 as a minimal drinking age there have been numerous car crashes among the young people between 18 and 21, moreover, an increased quantity of suicides was reported among the teenagers. That is why drinking age shift from 18 to 21 was a necessary step for American society (Drinking age law). Drunk Driving Enforcement Increase of traffic accident risk is dependent on blood alcohol concentration. The possibility of crash increases as alcohol concentration in blood reaches 0.08%. It is estimated that drunk drivers have more serious incidents with more harm (Hingson & Winter, 2011). However, according to Foundation of Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, in 2012 the quantity of traffic incidents decreased since 1982. This means that drunk crush victims’ number cut almost in half. The highest drunken driving fatality rate was witnessed in 1981with a gradual fall to 2012. (Drunk Driven Statistics 2012) Overall, these facts signify that drunk driving restrictions along with age restriction of consumption proves to be efficient. Impact Restaurant and Bar Owners “Dram shop laws” became the latest innovation in drunk driving legislation. The places serving once alcohol had such a name some time ago. This law allows suing tavernas and bars which served alcohol to the clients who were already visibly drunk and allowed driving home in drunk state. Slippery Nick`s Saloon was sued for $15 million sum in case of 3 occasional deaths of youngsters due to selling alcohol to already drunk driver. In Nashville the parents of wrongfully filled girl sue four different places. The driver who caused the accident got drunk in all four bars, resulting in three times the legal limit of alcohol in blood. However, there was no evidence proving that the bars could recognize the driver being drunk (Dram Shops and Social Host Liability, 2012). After 1993 ban alcohol annulment beverages management and governing was returned to the states individually. Inability to introduce overall prohibition has proven once more that the USA consists of different parts to find common standards comforting such a large population. Canada In Canada the first British and French colonists who brought the secrets of beer brewing, whiskey, rum, and wine established the traditions of drinking. It was also easier to survive in long journeys having alcohol as it helped from different diseases and was used as a medicine in some cases. Canadians also had their period of Prohibition in the first part of the XX-th century. Rum-running and bootlegging became an essential part of the economy at that time. Finally Canada managed to adopt and improve Britain`s liquor laws (Warsh, 1993). Canadian Drinking Behaviors About 25 % are those who consume alcohol more than once a week in Canada, 38 % drink alcohol more than three times a week, and the rest 11 % respectively drink more than four times a week. The first preferred alcohol beverage in Canada is beer followed by whiskey and wine. Canadians like gathering in the local bars and taverns in order to feel the sense of belonging and community. Canadians also positively treat drinking on weddings, birthday parties and other social events. Thus, Canadians are prone to perceive drinking as comfortable social activity (Heath, 2005). The predilections and the degree of alcohol consuming depend heavily on ethnicity, age, region, sex, social status, and education. Men as elsewhere in the world are reported to be heavier alcohol consumers than women. The youngest subgroup of people around 15-34 years old is prone to consume more alcohol that older subgroup. The level of education is inversely proportional to drinking habits. Those who have only secondary education consume less alcohol compared to those with postsecondary and higher education. Employed Canadians have higher percentage of alcohol consuming than those searching for a job or unemployed. Canada is a multinational country, thus, the habits vary according to cultural perception of drinking and ethnicity. As for today no persuasive research was conducted to define the differences of alcohol consumption of different ethnic minorities in Canada. However, it was stated that Anglophones and Francophones consume equal amount of alcohol beverages while native Canadians are prone to alcohol abuse (Heath, 2005). Alcohol Regulations Canadian provinces have the right to regulate alcohol related laws regarding selling and consumption. The legal drinking age in Canada depends on the province. In most districts it is 19 years old, while in the rest it is 18 years old. In Canada it is forbidden by law to purchase, posses, and consume alcohol beverages by anyone under 18-19 years old. Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec allow alcohol consumption from 18, while British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut sell alcohol only 19-year old citizen. It is also illegal to buy or supply minors with alcohol. It is also forbidden to supply a drinker who is already not in a sober state as it can inflict possible danger to the surrounding. Nevertheless, drinking alcohol in public places is banned in all the Canadian provinces without special permit from the authorities (Warsh, 1993). Driving a vehicle under the impacts of alcohol is illegal in both Canada and in the USA. If the degree of intoxication of the driver prevents normal mental and motor reactions and skills, such driving is considered to be a criminality. The type of punishment depends on the degree of intoxication, the region of the incident, and some other factors. Generally punishment presupposes driver`s license suspense and financial responsibility. Alcohol appeared long ago and people still did not lose their interest to it. It travelled long way from Europe to become popular in Canada and America. Since alcohol consumption proves to be not only individual but also social issue the countries have obligation to control alcohol beverages consumption. The countries of Northern America have elaborated special legislations towards alcohol consumption. Common laws restricting drunk driving and age boundaries of alcohol consumers prove to be efficient tools in traffic crashes. Thus, the situation with alcohol consumption regulation is progressing. References “Bars and Restaurants May be Liable for Damages in Kentucky DUI Car Accidents” Retrieved from:http://www.kentuckyinjurylawblog.com/2011/11/bars_and_restaurants_may_be_li.html Blocker, J., Fahey, D., Tyrrell, I. (2003). Alcohol and Temperance in modern History. Santa-Barbara: ABC-Clio. “Dram Shops and Social Host Liability” (2012).Mothers against drunk driving. Retrieved from: http://www.madd.org/laws/law-overview/Dram_Shop_Overview.pdf “Drunk Driven Statistics” (2012). Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. Retrieved from: http://responsibility.org/drunk-driving/drunk-driving-statistics Glass, G. (2003). Homebrewing laws in the USA. Laws and regulations. Retrieved from: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrewing-rights/statutes/ Hanson, J. (1999). Health: Alcohol Use and Abuse. Drugs and society, 5, 2, St. Paul, MN: Coursewise Publishing. Heath, D. (2005). International handbook of alcohol and culture. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. Hingson, F., &Winter, J. (2011) Epidemiology and Consequences of Drinking and Driving. National Institute of Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved from: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/63-78.htm Historical Overview (2003). Alcohol consumption in Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.nabca.org/page/historical-overview Houghton, E., & Roche, E. (2001). Learning about drinking. Philadelphia: Brunner Rutledge. Saad, L. (2012). Majority in U.S. Drink Alcohol, Averaging Four Drinks a Week, Gallup Well-being. Retrieved from: http://www.gallup.com/poll/156770/majority-drink-alcohol-averaging-four-drinks-week.aspx Tracy, S. (2005). Alcoholism in America: from reconstruction to prohibition. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press. Warsh, K. (1993). Drink in Canada. Ottawa: McGill-Queen`s University Press. Read More