Tennessee Breathalyzer Bills Blow Drunk Driving Fight Off Course

American Beverage Institute Says Tennessee’s Low-BAC First Offender Bills Aren’t Addressing The Real Drunk Driving Problem

(March 27, 2008)

American Beverage Institute Says Tennessee’s Low-BAC First Offender Bills Aren’t Addressing The Real Drunk Driving Problem

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI) denounced ignition interlock bills before the Tennessee House Judiciary Committee which would mandate the installation of breathalyzers in the cars of low-BAC (blood alcohol concentration) first-time offenders. The ABI further advocated in favor of targeting the high-BAC drivers and repeat offenders, who comprise the core of today’s drunk driving problem.

“By mandating breathalyzers for first time offenders, regardless of their BAC level, these bills ignore the root cause of today’s drunk driving problem—hard core alcohol abusers,” said ABI spokeswoman Sarah Longwell.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that the average BAC of a drunk driver in a fatal car crash is 0.19% -- that’s more than double the legal limit. Additionally, a NHTSA administrator has said that today’s problem is “by far and away” made up of “those who have alcohol use disorders.”

Former Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) president Katherine Prescott has made similar statements, saying that the drunk driving problem has been reduced to “a hard core of alcoholics who do not respond to public appeal.”

But the bills pending in Tennessee fail to target this population of dangerous drunks. Instead, this legislation would force low-BAC first-time DUI offenders, even those just one sip over the legal limit, to install breathalyzers in their cars.

“With Tennessee’s drunk driving limit set at 0.08% BAC, these bills would mandate that drivers install a breathalyzer in their car for behavior that, according to numerous studies, impairs them less than driving while talking on a hands-free cell phone,” said Longwell. “A 120 pound woman can reach the 0.08% BAC level by having two glasses of wine in two hours. Should she receive the same punishment as someone with a 0.19% BAC level or multiple offenses?"

“These bills won’t help solve the drunk driving problem in Tennessee,” she said, “because they target the wrong people.”

The American Beverage Institute is an association of restaurants committed to the responsible serving of adult beverages. To learn more visit: www.AmericanBeverageInstitute.com. For further information or to arrange an interview please call Sarah Longwell at (202) 463-7110.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2008
Media Contact: Sarah Longwell – (202) 463-7110

The American Beverage Institute (www.AmericanBeverageInstitute.com) is an association of restaurants and on-premise retailers committed to the responsible serving of adult beverages.

Source: American Beverage Institute
Contact: The American Beverage Institute, 202-463-7110