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August 26, 2005
DUI's
With the recent tragedy involving DUI in the news, it is worth remembering how many people have their own struggles with alcohol abuse, whether it is their own (or a family member's) DUI or other drug or alcohol related violation of the law, or a loved one's battle with drug or alcohol addiction.
In addition, many Georgians don't yet have a DUI merely because they haven't been caught or gotten into an accident while driving intoxicated. People drive while under the influence every day -- taxi's are too expensive, public transportation alternatives don't exist in their area, etc. The excuses are many and impossible to justify in hindsight if something terrible happens but often are easily justified nonetheless because even when impaired most people know the odds of something going wrong are slim.
The simple fact is that most parents of 21 year olds assume (and are probably right) that their children drink quite frequently. Most parents of 17 year olds probably have kids that drink, yet few acknowledge it in a way that is constructive -- the ones that do either instill such a fear of getting caught that their kids would never admit to it even when it could mean the difference between driving themselves home or calling for a ride, and on the other side you have a tendency to dismiss this behavior as "kids will be kids."
The very public ordeal of one Georgia family presents an opportunity for many other Georgia familes to get real and discuss an issue that must of us only discuss after something has gone wrong. Parents that want to be their children's best friend instead of their parents have an obligation to acknowledge that a 17 year old is not the same as a 21 year old. Others need to let their children know that getting a call that says they need a ride because it isn't safe for them to drive is seen as a sign of maturity and not a prerequisite to punishment. And still the rest of us can do more to make sure that an acquaintance who has had a little too much doesn't drive home anyway. We have an obligation not to turn a blind eye simply because it would inconvenience ourselves or our friends and family members.
Posted by Chris at August 26, 2005 03:28 AM
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