Quote:
Originally Posted by drgoodtrips
On a philosophical note, I always wondered why driving under the influence of alcohol became so demonized compared to other driver distractions. For instance, a lot of accidents are caused by driver fatigue (similar physical effects to DUI - slowed response times, lack of awareness, etc), screwing with the radio, eating while driving, having noisy children in the backseat, suffering from caffeine withdrawal, being old etc.
Generally, when you see commercials or what have you, they show grisly car accidents caused by DUI, but I've no doubt that the car accidents caused by other driver distractions are equally grisly and could produce equal numbers of sad stories. Bear in mind, I'm making no endorsement of driving while drunk, but idly wondering why someone who drives drunk becomes the scum of the Earth while someone who drives tired or senile is the recipient of nothing but pity.
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I agree with you, but I suspect one reason is that the law enforcement can prove that you have illegal levels of alcohol in your body in a comparatively easy way. It is more difficult to prove that someone is, for example, too tired to drive.
Personally, I believe the legal drinking age should be the same age as when you become legally adult. In most countries this would be eighteen. In Sweden, you can order alcohol at restaurants from the age of eighteen, but you have to be twenty to buy it in stores, oddly enough.