Many people believe that underage drinking and driving is only a problem on prom night or after graduation, but the latest newsletter from Mothers Against Drunk Driving contradicts that stereotypical belief. While underage drinking and driving definitely are problematic on those two occasions, the night before Thanksgiving actually seems to be the biggest night for underage drinking. According to MADD’s November newsletter, “The fridge and the liquor cabinets are stocked, parents are distracted by relatives and dinner preparations and older siblings or college-age friends are around.”
According to Buzzle.com, “in the past 10 years, deaths of youths (under 21 years) related to drunk driving have decreased by 33 percent. However, even after this substantial decline, around four people from this age group die every day due to drunk driving. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and one out of three of those is alcohol-related.” 
All 50 states in the United States and Puerto Rico currently apply two statutory (or constitutional) offenses to driving under the influence of
alcohol. The first offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while
intoxicated or impaired (DWI), or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer’s observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)
“Illegal per se” — the second offense — is driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dL or higher, according to www.nhtsa.gov. To drive with a BAC that is 0.08 or higher has been illegal in all 50 states since 2002.
In fatal crashes in 2009, the highest percentage of drivers with a BAC level of .08 (35 percent) were in the 21-24 age group, followed by 32 percent in the 25-34 age group and 26 percent in the 35-44 age group, according to buzzle.com. An average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 48 minutes in 2009. Fifty-six percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes who had been drinking had a BAC of .15 or greater. The percentage of drivers with BAC of .08 or above in fatal crashes was highest for motorcycle riders.
The three most critical skills necessary for safe driving — judgment, vision and reaction — critically are impaired when partygoers mix alcohol and driving. This is possible even when blood alcohol levels are well below the legal limit.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, during the past 10 years, alcohol-related crashes killed an estimated 170,000 people and injured nearly 5 million others at a cost to taxpayers and the economy of more than $51 billion. At this rate, one in three Americans can expect to be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.
Drunk driving is a crime that occurs because a person elects to make irresponsible choices. Alcohol affects people differently at different times. These differences depend on things such as what a person has eaten (or not eaten), their level of fatigue, metabolism or mood. Drunk driving is not an accident — it’s a conscious choice
Some people mistakenly believe that drinking one type of alcohol is better than another. The truth is that 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine and a one and a half-ounce shot of liquor all have about the same amount of alcohol. Normally, the body eliminates alcohol at a rate of about one drink per hour, but partygoers who stand around and drink often take in more alcohol that they realize, making it hard for the body to eliminate it at that level.
December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Listed below are some tips to keep you and others safe during the holidays:
• Parents should remember that providing alcohol to a minor is a felony and can result in fines of up to $1,500, up to 18 months in jail or both. And any minor caught with alcohol will face a fine and a suspension of their driver’s license.
• If you plan to drink, designate a non-drinking driver ahead of time, take a cab or make reservations at a nearby hotel and spend the night. Remember to consume food, sip drinks and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic beverages. Don’t ride with anyone who has been drinking to the point of impairment.
• If hosting a party where alcohol is being served, check with guests to see if they have a designated driver. Don’t let impaired guests drive. Arrange for rides for guests who appear impaired or keep them at your home.
• Serve a variety of food and non-alcoholic beverages at your party.

Ratcliffe is a consultant to the Coastal Health District. Call her at 876-6399.