As you already know, the minimum legal age of drinking (MLDA) in the US is 21 years and 18 in the UK. Teenagers consuming alcohol plus driving under the influence are likely to get into legal trouble that could affect their future. In the worst-case scenario, driving under the influence (DUI) can lead to fatal accidents.
According to the reports of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- 70% of the teens reveal that they do drink.
- One in ten teens often drinks and drives.
- 60% of all teen deaths due to accidents involved alcohol consumption.
Surely this data is disheartening. But, the good news is that in the past two decades, drinking and driving among teenagers have lowered by 54%. Additionally, parents are also proactively getting involved in their kids’ lives to help them stay safe on the road.
If you are also looking for a few ways to reduce the risk of underage drinking in your kids and driving under the influence (DUI), continue reading!
Teach Your Kids How to Handle Peer Pressure
The majority of the time, teenagers drink and drive due to peer pressure. As a matter of fact, DUI is just one instance of peer pressure. If your kids are not taught how to handle peer pressure, they are more likely to get involved in different types of offenses. Stating the obvious, such scenarios can affect the life of your child to a great extent.
So, you must teach your kids how to handle peer pressure and stay true to themselves. Teach them that it is perfectly okay to say no to the things they don’t want to do. Also, remind them that you are always by their side and help them in any emergency. It will help create an environment of free communication which will ensure that your kids don’t hesitate to share something with you.
Set A Few Rules For Driving
The legal age to start driving varies from state to state, but in most states, it is 16 years. When your kids insist on learning to drive or start to drive, you should set some ground rules for them. These rules must include a “No drunk and driving” clause.
You can create a parent-teen driving agreement to ensure that your kids follow the set rules. This agreement should include consequences or penalties for breaking the rules or drinking. You can also educate the kids about penalties stated under the law, such as denied acceptance to college, losing driving privileges, or serving time in jail.
Believe it or not, when the kids are well-versed with the consequences, the chances of acting carelessly reduce significantly.
Seek Assistance Of An Attorney
Truth to be told, despite the best efforts by parents, some teenagers do get involved in DUI. As heartbreaking as it may sound, it is crucial that parents take immediate steps to protect their kids. It would be best to look for a criminal defense attorney who can understand your situation and provide an effective solution. They can further guide you about the state laws.
In fact, having the contact of a criminal defense attorney is necessary, even if your child has not been involved in any offense. It would be beneficial to get in contact with this Georgia DUI lawyer, but of course, this can be customized to suit your location and your own individual needs. This attorney can then guide you and your children on different types of offenses, ensuring the whole family’s safety.
Set A Good Example For Your Kids
Kids are like mirrors- they do what they see. Set good examples in front of them, such as not drinking or driving, turning down the use of abusive language, or promoting non-violent behavior. This type of environment in the house significantly lowers the chances of kids adapting the same behavior.
Refrain yourself from performing any type of negative behavior, especially when you are frustrated, angry, or upset. If it seems necessary, you can also consider going for family therapy to ensure that your family lives a happy and healthy life.
Always Stay In Touch With Your Kids
Last but most importantly, you should know what is going on in your child’s life. Providing privacy to kids is crucial to help them understand themselves. However, it does not mean that you should let them do whatever they want.
You should know who their friends are, what activities they like, and how they generally deal with stress. Learning about these things will help you guide them in the right direction, reducing the chance of any offense.
A Word From Verywell
Driving under the influence in itself is an offense, and if the driver is underaged, the violation is severe. Therefore, you need to teach your kids a few rules and regulations to ensure their safety. Also, stay in touch with a criminal defense attorney so that you can protect your kids right away.
Woman driver photo created by yanalya
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