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Sample Essay On Should People Who are Caught Driving Drunk Lose Their Licenses for a Year?

According to (Department of Transportation (US), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)) alcohol impaired driving accounts for the deaths of at least 28 people every day translating to a life lost every hour that goes by. In 2014 for instance, nearly 10,000 people died due to alcohol impaired driving of which 209 of those who perished were children under 14 years. In the same year, American law enforcement arrested 1.1 million drivers under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, a grim contrast to the 121 million self-reported drunk driving cases in the United States. Moreover, alcohol related traffic crashes cost the state USD $44 billion annually (Blincoe, Miller and Zaloshnja).

From the above, statistics paint a bleak picture on the consequences of drunk driving. According to a report by (Wagenaar and Mildred ), suspending a driving license for a year is a modest penalty and is ineffective in deterring repeat offenders. However, the research covering 46 years found out that suspending the license right away on the other hand is more effective than waiting for a court’s verdict. Furthermore, celerity (the time elapsed between a crime and its punishment) studies have shown that immediate confiscation of a drunk-driver’s license instills disciplined driving thereby discouraging repeat offenders.

In conclusion, drunk driving is a fatal vice that needs stringent legislation to deter senseless loss of life and financial strain on government infrastructure. To this effect, suspending a drunk driver’s license for more than a year is not a human rights violation but rather a chance for one to meditate the consequences of their actions and ultimately save more lives from a preventable tragedy.

References

Blincoe, LJ, et al. The economic and societal impact of motor vehicle crashes,. Washington, DC:: NHTSA, 2010.
Department of Transportation (US), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Traffic Safety Facts 2014 data: alcohol-impaired driving. . Washington, DC: NHTSA, 2015.
Wagenaar, Alexander C. and Maldonado-Molina M. Mildred . Effects of Drivers’ License Suspension Policies on Alcohol-Related Crash Involvement: Long-Term Follow-Up in Forty-Six States. US: ALCOHOLISM: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, 2007.

History of alcohol in the United States Sample Essay & Outline

Introduction

Consumption of alcohol stated way before Christ, Muhammad or Buddha, before the formation of the fist industry, technology, democracy, paddle wheel boats, decimal, and compasses were discovered. Regardless of the method used to prepare it, the fact is that alcohol is one of the oldest beverages in the world. In the olden days, alcohol was consumed after meals and sometimes when warm to calm chills. It is difficult to determine where and when the first alcohol was prepared since people would prepare it in their homes for their consumption ( Gretchen and Toxqui 18). In the history of America, the brewing of alcohol started long before the dawn of civilization. There is archeological evidence that during the late paleolithic era, brewing of alcohol was an essential aspect of feasting and society (Catherine 75). The history of alcohol in the United States is extensive and interesting. It could be broken down into a general history, social, economic and legal history. The paper aims at discussing the history of alcohol consumption in the United States with respects to the generalized, social, economic and legal aspects.

General History

Preparation of alcohol in different parts of America varied depending on the region and its occupants. Native Americans are believed to be experts in the preparation of alcohol. The ancestral grass of the modern maize was a suitable ingredient for the preparation of alcohol than for the purposes of preparing corn flour. Records indicate that Mexican Native Americans had over forty different alcohol beverages which were prepared by using additional ingredients such as honey, palm sap, wild plum and pineapple among others (LMU 2). In other Areas such as coahuiltecan, Texas, people used a combination of agave and laurel plants to prepare alcoholic beverages. Other beverages such as aloe, maguey, corn, prickly, pear, pitahaya and grapes were also used in alcohol brewing.

The story of the moonshine is an interesting coverage in the history of alcohol brewing in the United States. Moonshine was a brand of whiskey that was illegally made under moonlight. According to the natives, the moon had the capabilities of altering a person’s state of mind. As a result, they interpreted the word moonshine as foolish talk.

Most people are familiar with the word honeymoon, which is nearly compulsory in modern marriages. It is interesting to note that the word honeymoon originated from a drinking custom which involved drinking mead for a whole month after the wedding in America. Mead was a form of alcohol that was prepared by fermenting a mixture of water, honey, rosemary, bay leaves and sweet briar (LMU 4). The natives used good yeast to initiate and speed up fermentation. Mead was fermented at a temperature range of 65-80 degrees F. on complete fermentation, the mead would be left for a month, after which it was put in bottles and left for up to 7 years. Away from the moonshine story, alcohol consumption was common during the colonial period since milk and water were rare. Colonialists relied on alcohol for hydration especially when traveling over long distances.

Social History

Alcohol consumption among Native Americans was associated with festivals and traditional rites of passage. Some of the popular events involving alcohol consumption included weddings, child naming parties, and annual cultural events. Additionally, there was minimal consumption of alcohol in homes especially after the main meals (UNICAF 1). While alcohol was viewed as a way of uniting people in native America, the perspective has changed owing to increasing critics against consumption of alcohol. Most of the critics are aimed at drinking among campus students. In a study carried out in the late 1980s, it was found that students were involved in heavy drinking that is a major threat to their health. Alcohol drinking in campuses is also associated with negative social behavior such as irresponsible sex and violence. In most cases, drunken students find themselves on the wrong side of the law which may interrupt or interfere with their studies.

What was a traditional social unifier has today become poisonous to the society. Owing to chain drinking, most people have been diagnosed with alcohol-related health problems such as liver cirrhosis and addiction problem. Researchers argue that if the consumption of alcohol in campuses is not controlled, the world might lack responsible leaders to run the economy. This is because most students are risking poor health and early death by over consuming alcoholic drinks. Additionally, alcohol consumption interfere with the quality of education. In the near future, there might be very few reliable professional to manage and run businesses (UNICAF 3). It is also important to note that alcoholics are mostly withdrawn from the rest of the community. The rate at which young people are consuming alcohol today is alarming and might be a barrier to positive socialization.

Economic History

Alcohol was and still a major item of trade in the United States. Before the temperance movement, there was smooth production and sale of alcohol inside and outside the United States. However, the business of alcohol was abruptly terminated after the ratification of the 18th amendment of the constitution in 1919. By 1920, all the alcohol that had been produced was completely exhausted (Farlex 7). Traders found a new opportunity after the prohibition of alcohol sales in the United States. Those who were daring enough to violate the law started illegal business of smuggling alcohol into United States. Although the dealers engage in illegal business, they were able to generate a lot of money owing to the high demand of alcohol. Prohibition affected the per capita consumption of alcohol in the United States. By the end of the prohibition, the per capita consumption had dropped to less than half a gallon per annum. Terminating the sale of alcohol affected the government reserve since alcohol was a major economic driver.

Today, alcohol contributes to a large percentage of the total GDP in the United States. According to reports released in 2010, United States generated up to $400 billion from the production and sale of alcohol. In addition, alcohol production and sale created 3.9 million jobs for the US population (Statistical Abstract of the United States 20). Alcohol is one of the highly taxed products in the United States. Therefore, the economic benefit drawn from production of alcohol is relatively higher than that of other products.

Legal History

The legal history of alcohol in the United States is linked to economic and social trends in the country. For instance, the libertarian philosophy which was a product of the American Revolution led to the whiskey rebellion. The libertarian philosophy introduced a shift on the concerns about morality and family harmony as part of the industrial revolution. This initiated the temperance movement which led to the prohibition of alcohol consumption in America. Alcohol consumption was prohibited under the 18th of the constitution in 1919. Consumption of alcohol resumed after the repeal in 1933 (Farlex 5).

Legalization of alcohol after the repeal in 1933 brought up several other issues such as health and safety. The state had to come up with laws that would counter the negative effects of alcohol consumption (Farlex 5). In an attempt to ensure safe consumption of alcohol, the United States came up with a minimum age limit above which a person could be allowed to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. Throughout the years, there has been a series of laws to continually ensure safe alcohol production and consumption. Some of the laws include labeling of alcoholic beverages, control for drunk driving and private litigants. Today, alcohol brewers must acquire legal permit so as to produce and sell alcohol to the public.

Conclusion

The history of alcohol in the United States consists of interesting occurrences and events. As seen in the paper, the history can be analyzed in four categories namely; general, social, economic and legal history. The four categories are not mutually exclusive. As a result, the social element may affect the economic or legal aspect in the history of alcohol consumption. In the native America, alcohol was viewed as a good beverage that was produced from natural ingredients. However, the product today faces several critics owing to the health complications associated with its intake. Nonetheless, the history of alcohol consumption in the United States is a topic that is worth exploration

References

Farlex. Historical background of alcohol in the United States. 2007.
LMU. History of alcohol use. 2014.
Murdock, Catherine G. Domesticating Drink: Women, Men, and Alcohol in America, 1870-1940. Baltimore, Md: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. Print.
Pierce, Gretchen, and Aurea Toxqui. Alcohol in Latin America: A Social and Cultural History. Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona Press, 2014. Computer file.
Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2010. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Print.
UNICAF. Alcohol-drinking on campus: a rite of passage out of control?. 2014. Online < http://law.jrank.org/pages/4218/Alcohol-DRINKING-ON-CAMPUS-RITE-PASSAGE-OUT-CONTROL.html >

Texting While Driving Sample Essay & Outline

The technology in the mobile phone has developed exponentially from the time it was introduced in 1983. It was initially preserved for top business executives but today, mobile phones are accessible to nearly all Americans. The growth has been characterized by people depending on the mobile phones as they desire to connect with them has become more basic each time. Mobile phones seem to be crucial in the contemporary American’s life. Thus, individuals use mobile phones anytime irrespective of the location. There are several considerable benefits of the increased application of mobile phones. There is a faster distribution of information and, therefore, enhancing safety. Also, the indiscriminate application of mobile phones inflicts a threat to protection if the user is driving. The purpose of this paper is to outline the impacts of texting while driving and propose potential measures, which if employed, would result in a cessation of the problems and risks of this act. Experts use the word texting to mean any action involving a text message such as reading, saving, deleting, typing and others. Thus, they say that texting while driving refers to the reading, deleting, typing and saving using a mobile phone while, at the same time, the user drives.

Statistics depicts that a frighteningly great number of drivers use mobile phones while driving. For any moment, there are 660,000 drivers applying mobile phones in the United States (US Department of Transportation, 1). This level shows that 5% of all the drivers on American roads use mobile phones at any particular time on a usual day. Furthermore, in 2012, 14% of drivers in the United States acknowledged that they were sending emails or text messages while driving. Besides, 35% of those these drivers clarified that they were operating uninterruptedly even when texting. The issue appears to be more serious with drivers below the age of 40 years than for older drivers. The problem of texting or using mobile phones while driving is not for Americans alone. In Queensland, Australia, nearly 59% of drivers confessed that they were applying mobile phones while driving (Center for Accident Research and Road Safety, 1). Furthermore, 45% of these drivers were either sending or reading text messages as they drive. As noted for the American drivers, younger drivers in Australia apply mobile phones more, with 94% of the drivers below the age of 24 years agreeing that they were using the mobile phone. The statistics show that drivers apply their mobile phones while driving. Experts have made future predictions basing on this statistics. They say that with texting while driving is more common to younger drivers the number will possibly keep on increasing each and every year.

Texting while driving inflicts a threat to the safety of those practicing it. When driving, a driver has to execute many small tasks that control the main activity of driving. Accordingly, ‘‘the driver must change gears, be keen on road signs, supervise their speed, keep track of the direction and route, be aware of pedestrians and traffic behind and in front them, among other activities’’ (US Department of Transportation, 1). Consequently, a driver has to put more emphasis fully on the task to ensure protection. Texting while driving includes a set of actions. These undertakings include opening the text message before typing or reading, searching for the mobile phone, confirming whether the message is well sent and delivered, searching for the receiver’s contact, proofreading a typed message, and placing the mobile phone back to a good and safe place. Also, many scholars have noted that, occasionally, the mobile phone may slide from the driver’s hand and drop, compelling the driver to stretch to get hold of it. They say that these activities confuse the driver in three ways.

The first distraction is that the drivers must take their eyes off the road. This means that when the driver reads or types a text message, their focus is not fully on the road. At night, the mobile phone’s backlight complicates it for the driver to see clearly for a few moments after finishing the tasks being performed in the phone. Secondly, to read or type a text message, the driver must hold the phone firmly. The activity confuses the driver physically making it hard to steer the vehicle as required. Thirdly, reading or texting calls for deep thinking depending on what is being discussed with the recipient. ‘‘Thinking can also lead to distraction of the driver.’’ Subsequently, these distractions can be harmful particularly if they happen at the wrong time and location, for example, just before another driver moves to another lane or at the pedestrian crossing (Sherin, 684). Furthermore, experts note that these distractions can result in slower than normal response, unplanned speed fluctuations, undeliberate shifting from the lane, poor judgment, and uncontrolled braking among other risky outcomes that relate to otherwise preventable road accidents. They say that stretching out to get hold of the dropped phone can be tremendously dangerous because it can make the driver turn the wheel mistakenly or press the brake harder than required.

It is apparent that texting while driving is a very risky activity. It is one of the causes of road accidents each year. These accidents negatively affect those involved and the overall economy in many ways. The accidents can lead to injuries that can range from sustainable level to fatal. Moreover, the accidents can also lead to destruction and, therefore, loss of property. On the other hand, when the chance of road accidents continuously increases, the cost of insurance cover will increase accordingly to cover for the risks. Also, an occurrence of a road accident in the developed parts of the country is most likely to lead to enormous accumulation of traffic jam. Such complex traffic can lead to time wastage and interruptions to the normal running of the business activities of that urban center, thereby affecting the economy adversely (Sherin, 685). The most obvious outcome of a crash is the loss of lives. Many scholars have noted that many accidents due to texting are ‘‘rear end,’’ in which a car smash into another from behind (Sherin, 685). They say that there is a possibility of preventing such accidents if the drivers ceased from using their mobile phones while driving.

The public must establish robust moral and cultural values against the application of mobile phones while driving. Such values will discourage individuals from not only texting while driving but also from sending text messages to other people, they are aware could be driving. People should also recognize the negative impacts that texting while driving has on the ability to control a vehicle safely (Sherin, 686). Today, most people know the risks caused by other people when they text as they drive but are oblivious to the truth that the same risks are practical when they text while driving. People should preserve the benefits brought by the technological development, and ensure that they are not costly, just like when the drivers text while driving, can be costly if the matter is not reasonably addressed. Furthermore, applicable technologies can be established to make it unbearable to text while driving. Many authors have proposed that through the application of GPS, a mobile phone can tell when in motion (Sherin, 687). They say that the technology can be used to automatically disable sending or receiving text messages when a car is in motion.

Reference

Center for Accident Research and Road Safety,. State of The Road. Queensland. Brisbane: CARRS, 2012. Print.
Sherin, Kevin M. et al. 'Preventing Texting While Driving'. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 47.5 (2014): 681-688. Web. 2015.
US Department of Transportation,. 'Using Electronic Devices While Driving Is A Serious Safety Problem'.Safety in Numbers 1.1 (2015): 1-3. Web. 2015.