A driver doesn't have to be falling-down drunk or even have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% to be a danger on the road. You've probably seen the ads that warn "Buzzed driving is drunk driving." So, what is "buzzed driving?" It refers to driving with a BAC of...
Helping your teen plan a safe prom or graduation party
As parents of high school students gear up for prom and graduation season, it may not be reassuring to learn that about a third of alcohol-related traffic fatalities for teens each year happen from April through June. That's according to National Highway Traffic...
How to avoid a spring break DUI
Whether you're planning to spend spring break in Florida, skiing in Colorado or at one of Georgia's coastal resorts, you don't need a DUI to mar your good time. Fortunately, with Uber and Lyft available just about everywhere, there's no reason to get behind the wheel...
Survey: Hard liquor readily available at University of Georgia
Parents whose kids attend the University of Georgia (UGA) here in Athens may be relieved to hear that it's no longer ranked at the top of the Princeton Review's list of "Party Schools." It had that dubious distinction back in 2010. In fact, it didn't even make the top...
Prom and graduation season brings teen DUIs
We're coming to the end of Alcohol Awareness Month, which coincides with the start of prom and graduation season. Both events are iconic in teens' lives. However, they're often associated with copious -- and often dangerous -- amounts of drinking. Too often, teens...
Why do teens ride with drivers who are under the influence?
Even teens who don't drink and drive may risk their lives by getting into a car with someone who is driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. A recently released university study reported that of 2,000 teens surveyed within two years after graduating from...
Underage drunk driving is illegal under the zero tolerance law
You got behind the wheel of your car after having a few drinks since you didn't sense that you were intoxicated. When you were stopped by police at a driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoint, you were asked to submit take a portable breath test. While your results...
DUI arrests have dropped in Georgia — but not fatalities
The number of arrests in Georgia for driving under the influence has dropped by almost 50 percent since 2008. That amounts to nearly 50,000 fewer arrests. DUI arrests by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) have dropped by more than a quarter since 2015. Unfortunately,...
What are the consequences for using a fake ID?
Although arriving at the legal drinking age of 21 might seem like light years away, you don't want to let your sense of urgency to be able to legally purchase alcohol cloud your ability to exercise sound judgment. Just like drinking and driving, using a fake ID can...
Underage drivers should be taught about the dangers of DUIs
There are many college and high school students who live in or visit Athens, Georgia (Clarke County). Some of them, unfortunately, engage in underage drinking. When they drink and drive, those students may find themselves facing DUI charges and in need of legal...