New at Reason

Tim Cavanaugh | September 27, 2004

David J. Hanson and Matt Walcoff take a sober look at federal pettifoggery about teen drinking.

Comments

|9.27.04 @ 6:46PM|#

They need to seperate teen drinking, which hurts nobody, from drunk driving, which hurts everybody.

Through pure dumb luck, almost certainly not on purpose, the government managed to stumble onto a half-decent system in Jersey. It's easy (though still technically illegal) to drink privately, but the DUI penalties for minors are so harsh they serve as an effective detterent. They sure as hell deter me.

Last thing teens want is to get pulled over for dioing 60 in a 55 the day after throwing back a few drinks. The cop decide to break their balls and breathalizes them, they blow a .001, which is enough for a minor. They lose their liscence for about a kajillion years. In my circle at least, DUI is virtually noneistant. Thoughts?

|9.27.04 @ 8:34PM|#

In Michigan, getting just one DUI raises a youth's car insurance rates, even if he was nowhere near a vehicle when ticketed. And, as if that wasn't absurd enough, they can take your licence away after 3 DUI's (i think), again, without having to have been anywhere near a car.

|9.27.04 @ 9:06PM|#

Andy: Are you sure you mean DUI and not public intox or possession of alcohol under the legal age (PAULA)? I can't imagine someone getting cited for Driving Under the Influence if they aren't driving.

|9.28.04 @ 8:08AM|#

You all need to get a clue. Teen drinking in this country is out of control. Big Alcohol gets our children hooked by fruit "coolers" pushed by dancing teddy bears. I've seen too many buzz-cut baseball-hat frat boys puking their brains out, when they should be in the study hall making A's. There's only one place for booze.. in the garage, under a box of old gardening tools, where it belongs..

|9.28.04 @ 10:47AM|#

How can you leave FRANCE and GERMANY out of a study about alcohol and teenagers? OTOH, if they had left out Italy as well it would have been a slam drunk for the crusaders.

Kevin Carson|9.28.04 @ 11:41AM|#

The legacy of Carrie Nation has really done a number on this country. In most of the world, wine is a normal table beverage for everyone. Small children are started out on diluted wine.

And I'll bet that their problems with teen alcoholism are significantly less than they are in a country where drinking is something shady you do on the sly, behind a facade of phony puritanism. Or where it's identified with frat parties and keggers, and other rituals of "growing up," rather than a normal part of family life.

It's especially bad here in the South, which has been dominated by the Baptists' bizarre views on alcohol ever since the early 19th century. This is a part of the country where a whispered "he drinks!" ranks up there with murder and child molestation; but at the same time, there are probably more toothless inbreeds fighting in roadhouses than anywhere else in the country. I don't think it's a coincidence.

|9.28.04 @ 12:36PM|#

I think Andy's talking about MIP (minor in possession) and not Driving Under the Influence.

Most states see fit to take teens drivers licenses for all sorts of non-driving actions. Misbehaving in school in some states can net you a suspension.
Any drug/alcohol/firearm/grafitti/truancy violation can get a person under 18's driver license suspended; in fact, a juvenile court judge in NV can order the suspension/revocation of a juvenile's drivers license for any offense.

|9.28.04 @ 12:37PM|#

"Are you sure you mean DUI and not public intox or possession of alcohol under the legal age"

I'm sorry, i can't believe i wrote DUI instead of MIP. THAT'S what i meant

Brendan Perez|9.28.04 @ 12:39PM|#

Sorry. Should clarify. The section about violations that can result in suspension was part of NV law and are the crimes that are suppsoed to result in license suspension in addition to the other penalties. A judge can also order the suspension/revocation for any other offense at their discretion and in addition to other penalties.