Hard-core users undeterred Alcohol consumption, measured as pure ethanol, has inched downward from a yearly average of 2.69 gallons per person in 1976 to 2.19 gallons in 1996, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Washington. During that time period, drunken driving has become increasingly socially unacceptable. But some people haven't heard the message. This small group of drinkers is undeterred by legal penalties, such as being prosecuted for vehicular homicide in a fatal accident. Lose It checkpoints and random patrols statewide.
Some jurisdictions go beyond revoking driver's licenses and take the cars away, too.
Despite years of public education campaigns by the government, safety groups and the alcoholic beverage industry, one recent telephone survey showed that 78 percent of 1,004 American adults are unfamiliar with their states' laws against drunken driving. Typically, respondents believed that their state allowed a BAC of 0.20 percent. And just 16 percent knew that 1.5 ounces of hard liquor contains the same amount of alcohol as a standard serving of beer or wine. The Century Council, an alcoholic beverage industry group, funded the survey, which was conducted in 48 states and the District of Columbia over a four-day period beginning Nov. 5. Concern over New Year celebration MADD and other traffic safety groups expect alcohol consumption to increase significantly as revelers celebrate the new millennium.