These problems include injury, death, damage to property, legal costs, increased insurance premiums, medical costs for alcohol intervention programs, loss of driver license, fines, and incarceration. In the past you have made some choices that have led to a drinking and driving violation. As you consider decisions about alcohol in the future, we hope that the information in this manual will be helpful to you in making safe, legal, and low-risk choices. In Minnesota, it is estimated that over a million and a half adults over the age of 21 use alcohol. For many of these drinkers, alcohol use is socially acceptable and is a complement to social events, good food, and conversation with friends and family.
Many families use wine or other alcoholic beverages as a part of traditions or rituals.
Others enjoy the relaxation effects of drinking or merely like the taste of a beer or a glass of wine with a special meal. In each of these examples, the use of alcohol is moderate, occasional and low- risk. There is also a large number of Minnesotans who choose not to drink. These people enjoy benefits from choosing to abstain from alcohol use. Abstinence is a lifesaving decision for people recovering from chemical dependency.