ALCOHOL & ALCOHOL & DRIVINGDRIVING

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in our society today.in our society today.

All states now enforce a minimum All states now enforce a minimum drinking age of 21.drinking age of 21.

Alcohol-related collisions are a major Alcohol-related collisions are a major safety problem, even with an increase of safety problem, even with an increase of alcohol-related education programs.alcohol-related education programs.

ALCOHOL FACTSALCOHOL FACTS

Alcohol is a drug. The effects of alcohol Alcohol is a drug. The effects of alcohol vary from person to person.vary from person to person.

Everyone who uses alcohol is affected by Everyone who uses alcohol is affected by it to some degree.it to some degree.

Drivers cannot afford to increase the Drivers cannot afford to increase the risks of driving by having their abilities risks of driving by having their abilities diminished by alcohol.diminished by alcohol.

CONSIDER THIS:CONSIDER THIS:

Young drinking drivers are involved in fatal Young drinking drivers are involved in fatal crashes at twice the rate of drivers aged 21 crashes at twice the rate of drivers aged 21 and older.and older.

Drivers aged 16 through 20 are more likely to Drivers aged 16 through 20 are more likely to be alcohol-impaired than any other age group.be alcohol-impaired than any other age group.

Nearly half of those killed in alcohol-related Nearly half of those killed in alcohol-related collisions had not been drinking but were collisions had not been drinking but were victims of drunk drivers.victims of drunk drivers.

More than half of all fatalities during holidays More than half of all fatalities during holidays are alcohol related.are alcohol related.

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON BEHAVIORBEHAVIOR

ALCOHOL in the BODYALCOHOL in the BODY

BAC-Blood alcohol concentration, the BAC-Blood alcohol concentration, the amount of alcohol in the blood.amount of alcohol in the blood.

Each drink adds about 0.02-0.03 percent Each drink adds about 0.02-0.03 percent to the person’s BACto the person’s BAC

You are considered legally drunk, in You are considered legally drunk, in Utah, when your BAC is 0.08 or higher. If Utah, when your BAC is 0.08 or higher. If you are under age 21, when you have you are under age 21, when you have any alcohol in your system.any alcohol in your system.

AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN STANDARD DRINKSSTANDARD DRINKS

FACTORS AFFECTING BACFACTORS AFFECTING BAC

Amount of alcohol consumedAmount of alcohol consumed Person’s body weightPerson’s body weight If the person has a full or empty stomachIf the person has a full or empty stomach What the person has been drinking.What the person has been drinking. How fast the person drank the alcohol.How fast the person drank the alcohol.

THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE BODY TO RID ITSELF OF BODY TO RID ITSELF OF

ALCOHOLALCOHOL

MYTHS ABOUT ALCOHOLMYTHS ABOUT ALCOHOL

I can sober up by drinking black coffee, I can sober up by drinking black coffee, taking a cold shower or doing exercises.taking a cold shower or doing exercises.

One little drink won’t hurt me.One little drink won’t hurt me. I am only drinking beer, I will not be I am only drinking beer, I will not be

affected.affected. I can drive better after a few drinks.I can drive better after a few drinks. A young person cannot become a A young person cannot become a

problem drinker.problem drinker.

TRUTHS ABOUT ALCOHOLTRUTHS ABOUT ALCOHOL

Time is the only thing that will sober you up.Time is the only thing that will sober you up. It takes the liver one hour to oxidize .5 oz of It takes the liver one hour to oxidize .5 oz of

alcohol.alcohol. Taking one drink makes it easier to take a Taking one drink makes it easier to take a

second one, and so on.second one, and so on. A 12 oz can of beer contains as much alcohol A 12 oz can of beer contains as much alcohol

as an average cocktail.as an average cocktail. Your driving abilities are diminished with Your driving abilities are diminished with

alcohol, not improved.alcohol, not improved.

ALCOHOL & THE LAWALCOHOL & THE LAW

Implied-Consent Law- Every state has an Implied-Consent Law- Every state has an implied-consent law for drivers, which implied-consent law for drivers, which means that anyone who receives a means that anyone who receives a driver’s license automatically consents to driver’s license automatically consents to be tested for BAC and other drugs if be tested for BAC and other drugs if stopped for suspicion of drug use while stopped for suspicion of drug use while driving. If the driver does not cooperate driving. If the driver does not cooperate or refuses to be tested that driver’s or refuses to be tested that driver’s license can be suspended.license can be suspended.

PENALTIESPENALTIES

Suspension or revocation of driver’s Suspension or revocation of driver’s licenselicense

Payment of a finePayment of a fine Serving a prison termServing a prison term Most common is suspension of driver’s Most common is suspension of driver’s

license for a specified period of timelicense for a specified period of time

FRIENDSFRIENDSDON’T LETDON’T LETFRIENDSFRIENDS

DRIVE DRUNKDRIVE DRUNK