| was a significant amount of controversy surrounding | | | | Personal abilities are said to deteriorate much further |
| the decrease in the acceptable blood alcohol content | | | | after the BAC reaches 1.0. |
| levels in the United States. The acceptable BAC had | | | | Many have used a simple chart to determine the |
| been .10 in most instances, but when it was altered to | | | | number of drinks an individual can consume and still be |
| .08 there was frustration among those who believe | | | | able to drive, but some experts contend that there are |
| this to be an infringement on their freedom. | | | | so many variables including alcohol tolerance and body |
| Many of the most outspoken had never caused any | | | | size that any chart is largely unreliable. |
| injury to others and objected to a system that further | | | | The problem may be further exacerbated when it |
| regulated their lives and subsequent behaviors. | | | | comes to young adults who either drink and drive while |
| Advocates of the change point to statistics that | | | | still a minor or have had very little understanding of |
| indicate a drop in motor vehicle accidents involving | | | | how their body may react with alcohol. Many lives |
| alcohol. They further assert that this drop is enhanced | | | | have been forever altered because of this type of |
| when individuals who drink agree to either allow | | | | scenario. |
| someone else to drive them home or call a cab. | | | | Another prevalent issue raised in conjunction with |
| While the view among some will be that their personal | | | | drinking and driving stems from the use or abuse of |
| freedoms are being trampled it should be noted that | | | | drugs while consuming alcohol. The combination of the |
| even at .08 America still maintains the highest allowable | | | | two can cause blackouts and a severe disability to |
| drinking age in the developed world. They are joined | | | | manage normal driving functions. This is often why |
| by a handful of other countries including Canada and | | | | police officers look for drivers who seem to be going |
| England, but in places like Croatia and Spain there is | | | | much slower than the remainder of traffic. These |
| zero tolerance for any detectable BAC level among | | | | drivers are often the ones most heavily under the |
| drivers. | | | | influence. |
| The majority of countries have adopted laws that | | | | The goal for traffic safety is to keep drivers off the |
| allow .05 or less as the standard levels for blood | | | | road when they have had too much to drink. |
| alcohol. | | | | Perhaps it is the role of enforcement that causes |
| Most people who do drink with a BAC of .08 or higher | | | | some to consider the decrease in allowable drinking |
| typically do not perceive they are impaired and this is | | | | limits to be unfair. In many cases it can be typically |
| likely a reason why there are complaints about the | | | | law-abiding citizens who may find themselves most |
| alteration in law. | | | | vulnerable to a charge of driving while intoxicated. |
| However, studies show that reflexes are damaged | | | | Alcohol often plays a significant role in society. Some |
| when alcohol levels reach as little as .03 and can be | | | | believe it is possible to consume spirits and maintain the |
| greatly amplified by the time levels reach .06. Depth | | | | safe operation of a motor vehicle others argue |
| perception and reasoning can also be impaired the | | | | enough have already died at the hands of those who |
| closer a driver gets to .10 in their blood alcohol content. | | | | thought the same thing. |