Drinking learner permits

Drinking learner permits

Merge|alcohol abuse|date=August 2007

Drinking learner permits have been proposed as a way to reduce alcohol abuse among young adults. Proponents argue that learner's permits would be analogous to driving learner permits. A person who wishes to obtain a driver's license must first acquire a learner's permit. This requires that the person pass a written test of driving knowledge and then pass a test of driving ability by successfully operating a motor vehicle. Issuance of the learner's permit then allows the driver to operate a vehicle under the oversight of an older driver and the permit holder is restricted to driving only during certain hours and under a number of other restrictions designed to help the person learn to drive safely.

Proponents of alcoholic beverage drinking learner permits argue that they should be available to adults age 18 to 21 with parental or guardian permission after successfully completing an alcohol education course and written tests. The permit would restrict the locations, times, and amounts of alcohol that could legally be consumed. The permit could be revoked immediately at any time by the parents or guardians or any law enforcement officer. [ [http://www.chooseresponsibility.org Choose Responsibility, drinking age, John McCardell, Middlebury, Changing the culture of Young Adult Drinking in America Choose Responsibility ] ] Opponents of drinking learner permits argue that persons under the age of 21 should not be permitted to drink any amount of alcohol for any reason, including religious, because they believe their brains lack the necessary physiological development. [ National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol Alert: Underage Drinking - A Major Public Health Challenge, Alcohol Alert #59, April, 2003.] Proponents emphasize that the applicability of this research to light and moderate drinking is speculative because it is based on rats and young people who are serious alcohol abusers who are typically in treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. It also fails to address the fact that Jews, Italians, Greeks, Spaniards, Portuguese and many others typically drink from an early age without any reported cognitive impairment.

Opponents also argue that adults age 18, 19 and 20 lack the maturity to make informed decisions about drinking. Proponents emphasize that citizens are legally adults at the age of 18.

The organization Choose Responsibility actively promotes drinking learner permits.

References

ources

* Brake, Mike. Needed: A license to drink. "Newsweek", March 14, 1994.
* Gavin, Courtney Love. A learner's permit for drinking. "Morgan Hill Times", February 6, 2004.
* Heath, Dwight B., and Hanson, David J. The misguided prohibition that governs U.S. colleges. "The Chronicle of Higher Education", 2001 (August 10), "47(48)", p. B14.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • John McCardell, Jr. — John M. McCardell, Jr. Bicentennial Hall at Middlebury College. John Malcolm McCardell, Jr. (born June 17, 1949)[1] is the Vice Chancellor of The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and the president emeritus and a professor of history …   Wikipedia

  • Driver's license in the United States — In the United States, nearly all driver s licenses are issued by individual states (including Washington, D.C. and territories), rather than the federal government. Drivers are normally required to obtain a license from their state of residence,… …   Wikipedia

  • Driving licence in Australia — A Provisional Driver Licence from the Australian Capital Territory. A driver s licence (or driver licence) is required in Australia before a person is permitted to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in Australia. Driver s… …   Wikipedia

  • Drunk driving law by country — Contents 1 Laws by country Blood/Alcohol Limit 1.1 Asia 1.1.1 Central Asia …   Wikipedia

  • Driving licence in Canada — In Canada, driver s licences are issued by the government of the province and territory in which the driver is residing. Thus, specific regulations relating to driver s licences vary province to province, though overall they are quite similar.… …   Wikipedia

  • education — /ej oo kay sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 2. the act or process of… …   Universalium

  • Texting while driving — Main article: Distracted driving Texting while driving leads to increased distraction Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a …   Wikipedia

  • Drunk driving in the United States — Drunk driving is the act of operating and/or driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired. It is illegal in all jurisdictions within the United States, though… …   Wikipedia

  • Scientology beliefs and practices — Scientology is, according to its own texts, the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. [cite web | url=http://www.scientology.org/en US/religion/presentation/pg006.html | title=Introduction to… …   Wikipedia

  • Mobile phones and driving safety — A driver placing a call Mobile phone use while driving is common, but dangerous. Due to the number of accidents that are related to cell phone use while driving, some jurisdictions have made the use of a cell phone while driving illegal. Others… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”