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 enervated at ahead one alcoholic beverage within the past 30 days. Also, halfway a place 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 week and impaired soundness and coordination—their privation 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 caducity old 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. Besides, drivers in this age combine 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 preface to drink at younger ages than in the past. Thanks to 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 drowsy alcohol by the grow of 15.
In force to these statistics and fatal traffic collisions in exclusive communities, cities and the state of California have enacted laws to grip adults accountable for providing alcohol to minors. Recently, Irvine joined the Orange County cities of Assignment Viejo and Laguna Hills when it passed an order that will decision in fines of between $750 and $3, 000 for party hosts who supply alcoholic beverages to or allow their consumption by shortfall attendants of social gathering pledged on characteristic property. After a law passed in 2010, if a jag host furnishes alcohol to a minor and that minor in consequence causes a fatal or injury accident, the victims may take civil actions against the host.
Considering that social gatherings involving minors where alcohol is up-to-date are more likely to occur in a private residence than a bar or public area, social host laws have serious potential for reducing fatal and injury car accidents, explains a lawyer. Accustomed that the laws in Orange County and throughout the state have only recently been enacted, it may take a few elderliness until the impact of them is fully realized.