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Perry County Prosecutor’s Office. ALCOHOL. Know the FACTS. Know the LAW. What is alcohol?. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the United States. It is a depressant that is made from various grapes, grains, and berries. 21.
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ALCOHOL Know the FACTS. Know the LAW.
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the United States. It is a depressant that is made from various grapes, grains, and berries.
21 In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, making the minimum age to buy, possess, or consume alcohol in all fifty states 21 years of age.
It seems like EVERYONE drinks before they are 21, what is the big deal?
Illegal possession, consumption or transportation of alcohol by a minor A Class C Misdemeanor
If minor is age18, drivers license may be suspended for up to 1 year. • If minor is under age 18, drivers license may be suspended for up to 60 days.
Class C Misdemeanors may also carry up to $500 in fines AND up to 60 days in JAIL.
Juveniles who are charged with this offense will have to appear in juvenile court and may be placed on probation.
A person under the age of 21 who operates a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least 0.02 gram but less than 0.08 gram of alcohol commits a Class C infraction.
BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Content. It is the concentration of alcohol in blood, measured, by volume, as a percentage.
The equation looks like this…
Law Enforcement Officers use a Portable Breath Test to determine a person’s BAC.
A drink is a drink is a drink… One 12 oz. beer has the same amount of alcohol as one 1.5 oz. shot of whiskey or other hard liquor and a 5 oz. glass of wine.
= = 12 ounces of Beer 1.5 ounces of whiskey 5 ounces of wine = =
Don’t be fooled… A wine cooler may seem like an innocent juice drink, but it contains the same amount of alcohol as a 12 oz. Beer.
A person wouldn’t test positive for alcohol on a breathalyzer after only one drink, would they?
In 1998, Mr. Ricky Carter was driving while intoxicated and ended the lives of four young girls in a tragic and unnecessary accident. Mr. Carter’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was .16, over twice the legal limit in Texas. A jury found him guilty and the court sentenced him to a prison term of twenty years.
How many people are actually drinking and driving on our roads?
During 2004, about 1.4 MILLION drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
16,694 people in the United States died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
Impaired driving is the #1 cause of death for every age group between 3 and 33.
In 2003, 25% of U.S. drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking alcohol.
A higher BAC increases your chances of being involved in fatal single vehicle accidents. CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN ALL STATES
278 277 264 192 161
WEAVING • The effects of alcohol can cause intoxicated drivers to have difficulty steering.
JERKINGMOTIONS • Short mental lapses can cause intoxicated drivers to not keep a steady speed even on clear roads.
QUICK STOPS • Rather than easing up to a stop, intoxicated drivers may make sudden stops which can cause accidents for others as well.
SPEEDING • That false feeling of control makes drinking drivers THINK they can safely speed.
RECKLESS OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR • Passing illegally, tailgating, and crowding other drivers off the roadway are extremely dangerous to everyone on the road.
NEVER get behind the wheel if you have been drinking. You are not only putting yourself at risk, but you could cause injury to your passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians.
If you see someone who has been drinking, don’t let them drive!!