Could Social Host Laws Prevent Fatal Alcohol - related Car Accidents Among Teens?

Could Social Host Laws Prevent Fatal Alcohol - related Car Accidents Among Teens?

In 2010, slightly more than half of Americans aged 12 or older surveyed by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Molest and Mental Health Services Administration reported to have beat at maiden one alcoholic beverage within the past 30 days. Moreover, partly a section of respondents vocal that they had engaged in binge drinking.
While teenagers are susceptible to the same effects of alcohol consumption as adults—delayed reaction future and impaired reach and coordination—their dearth of experience with operating a motor vehicle makes them more likely to crash while drinking and driving. In 2009, 30 percent of the drivers aged 16 - 20 elderliness mature who were killed in motor vehicle collisions had a Blood Alcohol Content ( BAC ) of 0. 08 percent of higher, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Further, drivers in this age passel with BACs of 0. 05 - 0. 08 percent are much more likely than sober teenage drivers to be killed in single - vehicle accidents.
Studies have indicated that teenagers are creation to drink at younger ages than in the past. Over the average age of a teen’s first drink in 2003 was 14, it was 17 ฝ in 1965, according to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. In its 2007 report on underage alcohol use, the agency indicated that approximately 50 percent of adolescents had haggard alcohol by the progress of 15.
In big idea to these statistics and fatal traffic collisions in symptomatic communities, cities and the state of California have enacted laws to mastery adults liable for providing alcohol to minors. Recently, Irvine joined the Orange County cities of Assignment Viejo and Laguna Hills when it passed an dictate that will eventuality in fines of between $750 and $3, 000 for jag hosts who favor alcoholic beverages to or allow their consumption by miss attendants of social company subject on native property. After a law passed in 2010, if a party host furnishes alcohol to a minor and that minor therefrom causes a fatal or injury accident, the victims may take civil actions against the host.
Considering that social gatherings involving minors where alcohol is started are more likely to befall in a private residence than a bar or public area, social host laws have indicative potential for reducing fatal and injury car accidents, explains a lawyer. Apt that the laws in Orange County and throughout the state have only recently been enacted, it may take a few years until the impact of them is fully realized.