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Some facts about driving under the
influence
Alcohol is a depressant, slowing down the activity of the brain. It has been shown to
impair judgment, the ability to concentrate, comprehension, vision and coordination.
Any one or all of these functions may be affected by just one drink, and it
doesn’t matter what type of alcohol is consumed. The amount of ethyl alcohol—the
principal ingredient in all alcoholic beverages—in a 12-oz. can of beer is exactly
the same as that found in a full glass of wine or a 1-1/4 ounce shot of 86-proof whiskey.
Beer is not a close cousin to a soft drink, as some people contend.
Of course, people differ in their ability to function after drinking. Several factors
influence the rate at which a person will become drunk, among them:
- how rapidly the alcohol is consumed
- how strong the drink is (i.e. alcohol content)
- the weight of the person drinking
- the amount of food or other liquids that are consumed
- individual differences in the rate of absorption of alcohol
- individual differences in the rate of oxidation or burning of alcohol by the liver
Alcohol is one of the few substances that does not have to be digested. Once it enters
the body, it is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and carried to all parts
of the body—including the brain. Alcohol consumed on an empty stomach, can reach the
brain within two minutes! And, if it is consumed rapidly, the effect on the brain centers
may last as long as five hours after the alcohol has been ingested.
Every state outlaws driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over
0.10 percent—many are even lower. Even with a BAC well below the legal limit, driving ability may become
impaired enough to be unsafe on the roadway.
The financial impact of being arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol
(referred to as DUI or DWI) can be high—easily $5,000 or more, including legal fees,
trial costs, bail and increased auto insurance premiums.
A conviction can lead to more far-reaching effects, such as loss of driving privileges,
a jail sentence or public service requirement, a fine, etc. And if an accident occurs, the
human toll is a loss that no one can afford. More than half of all traffic fatalities
involve alcohol, with most of them occurring between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Historically, young drivers have had the highest DUI arrest rate. And alarmingly, while
the overall incidence of DUI arrests among all licensed drivers has been on the decline in
recent years, the decrease in DUI arrests for youthful drivers has been much slower than
that for older drivers.
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