| Over 20 years ago several states, including Florida, | | | | would keep individuals with DUI convictions or other |
| raised the drinking age from 18 or 19 to 21. They did | | | | alcohol related offenses out of bars and hopefully off |
| this under duress. The federal government was | | | | of the roads. This approach makes more sense than |
| threatening to withhold funds earmarked for building | | | | simply raising the severity of punishment for DUIs as |
| roads if they did not comply. Raising the drinking age | | | | most states have done. Punishing the offender with |
| was a good idea. The result of this was fewer | | | | more jail time and higher fines appeals to reasonable, |
| teenage traffic fatalities. Some states, including Florida, | | | | rational adults. Unfortunately, addicts and the actively |
| had lowered the drinking age in the early-70s due to | | | | inebriated are not usually subject to the influence of |
| the Viet Nam war. The reasoning was if a 19 y.o. was | | | | reason. |
| old enough to fight for his country he was old enough | | | | Prohibition (1919-1933) was a failure in this country and |
| to drink. I have seen this same bad idea come up | | | | obviously should not be tried again. However, taking |
| again because of the Iraq war. Keeping the age at 21 | | | | some measure to limit the availability of alcohol would |
| is wise, and even more needs to be done to make | | | | undoubtedly prevent a few traffic fatalities and slow or |
| alcohol less accessible to those who have a history of | | | | stop the insidious process of alcoholism in some. In |
| alcohol related problems. | | | | Florida, as in most states, alcohol is far too easily |
| I would propose that at the time of a DUI conviction, or | | | | available. Over the past three decades most counties |
| another alcohol related offense, that the driver forfeit | | | | and municipalities have done away with blue laws and |
| his/her license and be issued a special license. This | | | | extended the hours when alcohol can be sold. It is in |
| new license would be a different color and would be | | | | my opinion part of the slow erosion of values and |
| clearly stamped: "Problem Drinker - The Sale of | | | | morality that has occurred since the 1960s. I am a |
| Alcoholic Beverages to this Individual is Punishable by | | | | licensed mental health counselor and have seen the |
| Law." | | | | effects of this erosion of morality up close in the |
| At the time of purchasing any alcoholic beverage | | | | hundreds of addicts and alcoholics I've treated over |
| anywhere (bar, liquor store, convenience store, etc) the | | | | the years. |
| buyer would have to show his/her license. Special | | | | I propose that states, or the U.S. Congress, enact |
| drinking permits could be issued to those who did not | | | | legislation to limit the sale of alcoholic beverages from |
| have driver's licenses. Any time alcohol was | | | | noon to midnight and not at all on Sunday. Such |
| purchased the buyer would have to show one ID or | | | | legislation would not solve the problem of drunk driving |
| the other to be served. This would produce some | | | | or alcoholism but it would cause a decrease in the |
| inconvenience for clerks and bartenders and I'm sure | | | | enormous cost in wasted money and lost lives that |
| the "hospitality" industry and liquor lobby would be | | | | alcohol abuse exacts. That legislation, plus the issuing |
| stridently opposed. However, I think the benefits would | | | | special drinking permits and additional taxes on |
| far outweigh the problems. | | | | alcoholic beverages would all help reduce the toll in our |
| The advantage of this approach would be that it | | | | increasingly addicted society. |