Innovative Monitoring Network
“Because Hangovers Suck” Speaks to Millennial Drinkers
“Because Hangovers Suck” Speaks to Millennial Drinkers Hangovers suck, as does waking up with regrets the morning after drinking. That’s the message a Michigan-based grassroots organization, Better Drinking Culture (BDC), is using in an attempt to promote healthier attitudes towards drinking. Jason Ley, CEO of Better Drinking Culture, claims that the common idioms “drink responsibly” and “don’t...
With Thanksgiving DUIs Up, What Does That Mean for the Rest of the Season
With Thanksgiving DUIs Up, What Does That Mean for the Rest of the Season If Thanksgiving is any indication, holiday DUI arrests can be expected to rise. Despite the repeated efforts of both law enforcement and private agencies to educate the public on the dangers and consequences of drunk driving, alcohol misuse during the holidays continues to trend upward. DUI arrests on the rise this...
Will An Alcohol Tax Break Hurt Drunk Driving Efforts?
Will An Alcohol Tax Break Hurt Drunk Driving Efforts? As Congress works to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the proposed tax changes, policy analysts predict one item likely to survive the discussion is a tax cut on beer, wine, and spirits. The Senate version of the tax bill lowers federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages to varying degrees, including a 50% drop on smaller craft...
Drinking legally at 19? Wisconsin is considering it
Drinking legally at 19? Wisconsin is considering it Could lowering the legal drinking age reduce binge drinking among younger drinkers, particularly those in college? Three Wisconsin state legislators seem to think so. The proposed bill, sponsored by Republican representatives Adam Jarchow, Cindi Duchow, and Rob Swearingen would reduce the legal drinking age in Wisconsin to 19. By lowering the...
New Kentucky Program Seeks to Curb Repeat DUI Offenses
New Kentucky Program Seeks to Curb Repeat DUI Offenses Since 2011, Jefferson County—home of Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city—has averaged 4,260 DUI charges annually. In 2016 alone, Jefferson District Court saw a total of 2,383 DUIs, of which, 22% were repeat offenses. This summer, the county implemented its Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Program (CAMP), which seeks to save lives and reduce...
Responsible Beverage Service and Enforcement: Does it Reduce DUIs?
Responsible Beverage Service and Enforcement: Does it Reduce DUIs? Can a simple education program for bartenders and alcohol servers reduce drunk driving? The results of a study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) earlier this year suggest it can. The study examined whether responsible beverage service (RBS) training and enforcement might serve as an effective...
Infographic: Drinking and DUIs During the Holidays
Infographic: Drinking and DUIs During the Holidays The holidays are a season of traditions, many of which include family and friends, large meals, and fun parties. But there are some unwelcomed traditions that accompany this season as well—mainly binge drinking, drunk driving, and alcohol-related traffic deaths. It’s a sad fact that the holidays—Blackout Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve) to New...
2016 Data: Drunk Driving Deaths Up for Second Year in a Row
2016 Data: Drunk Driving Deaths Up for Second Year in a Row Newly released data from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that both overall traffic deaths and alcohol-involved traffic fatalities increased in 2016 over the previous year. It’s the first time in more than a decade that deaths on America’s roads have increased for two consecutive years. Nearly 2,000 more...
Are Ridesharing Services Affecting Drunk Driving Crashes?
Are Ridesharing Services Affecting Drunk Driving Crashes? Research over the past few years suggests that the availability of ridesharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, may help reduce drunk driving incidents. With the use of these apps on the rise, it makes sense that drunk driving crashes would decrease, especially in metropolitan cities where this business is booming. While this theory may...
Ignition Interlocks for Motorcycles: Does It Make Sense?
Ignition Interlocks for Motorcycles: Does It Make Sense? Last May, a study headed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posed an interesting question: does it make sense to apply ignition interlocks to motorcycles? Examining data from 2011, NHTSA found that motorcycle fatalities “increased from 3,270 deaths in 2002 to 4,612 deaths in 2011.” Of those fatal crashes, 30 percent...