ALCOHOL AND THE LAW

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ALCOHOL AND THE LAW
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What is the need for this program at UF?

• It is a factor in 21 of UF dropouts
• It is a factor in 75 of date rape cases
• Of all 20-24 year olds killed in traffic crashes,
  55 involved alcohol
• 60 of women who contracted a STD reported being
  drunk at the time
• It is a factor in lower grades (Ds or Fs, 10
  drinks/week. Mostly As, 3 or less!
• It is a factor in the leading causes of death for
  persons 16-24 years old

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Why Do People Drink?

• It is part of a college experience
• It is socially acceptable
• It is a cheap and easy form of entertainment

• Peer Pressure
• Rebellion
• Perceived risk is minimal

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Alcohol in the Body

• Alcohol reaches the liver where it is oxidized
  (changed into water, carbon dioxide and energy.)
  The liver converts about 1/2 ounce alcohol per
  hour and nothing can be done to speed it up or
  slow it down. The drug continues to affect the
  drinker until the liver metabolizes all of the
  alcohol circulating in the body.

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It affects some people differently than others

• One drink may be too much depending on
• A persons body weight
• How fast a person drinks
• Amount of food in the persons stomach
• A persons mood
• Gender (women have a lower of water in their
  body and less of the enzyme that breaks down
  alcohol)

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Myths About Sobering Up

• A cold shower
• Exercise
• Black coffee
• Fresh Air
• Drinking lots of water
• All of these may make a drinker more awake. But
  time --and only time-- can make a drinker sober

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Common Arrests on UFs Campus

• Alcohol possession under the age of 21(Florida
  Statues 562.111)
• DUI
• City Ordinance Open Container

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21 is the LEGAL drinking age in Florida

• Violation of this law is a second degree
  misdemeanor punishable by fine and/or imprisonment

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Floridas zero tolerance law for underage
drinking and driving

• As of January 1, 1997 a person under the age of
  21 can lose their driving privileges for drinking
  even a very small amount of alcohol and driving.
  A .02 BAC is all that is allowed. Possible just
  one drink!

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What Could Happen to you?

• You can receive an administrative suspension
  which is not a criminal offense
• Your drivers license is confiscated and a 10 day
  temporary driving permit is issued along with the
  notice of suspension
• You then have 10 days to request a formal or
  informal review by the division of drivers
  license

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Penalties for first and second violations and
refusal

• First violation may result in a six month
  suspension of your driving privileges
• Second violation may result in a one year
  suspension of your driving privileges
• Refusing to be tested results in a license
  suspension of 1 year or 18 months for a second or
  subsequent refusal

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Florida Law/ DUI

• A blood or breath alcohol level of .08 is
  evidence that a person is under the influence of
  alcohol to the extent that normal faculties are
  impaired and therefore guilty of DUI
• The .08 level establishes a legal presumption of
  impairment

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DUI Penalties

• 1st conviction

• Fine of 250-500
• 6 months in jail
• report to a probation officer
• Attend a substance abuse course
• Lose your license for up to one year

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DUI Penalties

• Second conviction within 5 years

• 10 days in jail
• loss of your license for at least 5 years

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DUI Penalties

• 3rd conviction within 10 years

• 30 days in jail
• loss of license for at least 10 years

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DUI Penalties

• 4th and subsequent convictions...

• You will be charged with a 3rd degree felony and
  considered to be an habitual offender
• Habitual offenders risk the lifetime revocation
  of driving privileges

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Implied Consent

• By accepting a Floridas Driver license and using
  Floridas highways, a person agrees to submit to
  a chemical or physical test
• If license is out of state, persons are
  considered to expressed consent by traveling on
  Floridas highways

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Refusal

• You may refuse
• 1st refusal may result in a 1-year suspension
• 2nd refusal may result in an 18 month suspension

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Fake IDs

• Being in possession of fake Ids can either be a
  felony or a misdemeanor

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Felony

• To be in possession of any blank, forged, stolen
  and fictitious, counterfeit or unlawfully issued
  drivers license or identification
• To agree to supply or aid in supplying any person
  with a DL or ID card

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Felony Penalties

• Up to 5 years imprisonment
• Up to 5,000.00 fine

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Misdemeanor

• To lend your drivers license to another person
• To represent yourself with any DL not issued to
  you
• To give false age in any application for a DL
• To possess a DL on which the date of birth has
  been altered

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Misdemeanor Penalties

• Up to 60 days in jail
• Up to 500.00 fine

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Department of Highway Safety/Motor Vehicles

• DHSMV will suspend your driving privileges
  usually for a year or more as a result of
  carrying fake IDs

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Other Penalties

• Probation
• Suspension
• Community Service Hours

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Responsible Party Tips

• Dont drink so much that you loose control or
  pass out
• Party with your friends so you can watch out for
  each other
• NEVER leave your drink unattended
• Dont drink on an empty stomach
• NEVER drink and drive designate a driver to
  stay sober

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If Friends Want to Drive After Drinking

• Persuade the person not to drive
• Provide alternative driving (drive them home or
  arrange a ride)
• Prevent them from driving until sober-take the
  keys if needed
• Under no circumstances should you ride with them
  if you cant stop them

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If You Spot a Drunk Driver on the Road

• Keep a safe distance (they are unpredictable)
• Report the vehicle (DUI) or (GPD) you could
  save someones life. Give a complete description
  of the vehicle or license number

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Common Signs of an Intoxicated Driver

• Driving too fast
• Running over curbs
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Straddling the center line
• Following too closely
• Driving with no headlights at night
• Stopping and starting in a jerky fashion

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Consequences of Alcohol Abuse

• Embarrassing injuries at work, home, play
  (hangover, alcohol related fights)
• Legal problems
• Student judicial services sanctions
• Acute alcohol poisoning
• Long term health problems like alcoholism (1 in 7
  drinkers) cirrhosis of the liver (1 in 10 long
  term drinkers)
• Death

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Top Causes of Death Among 16-24 Year Olds

• Alcohol related auto crashes
• Alcohol related drowning
• Alcohol related suicides
• Alcohol related homicides

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PRESENTED BY UPD COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION