There was a significant amount of controversy surrounding the decrease in the acceptable blood alcohol content levels in the United States. The acceptable BAC had been .10 in most instances, but when it was altered to .08 there was frustration among those who believe this to be an infringement on their freedom.



Many of the most outspoken had never caused any injury to others and objected to a system that further regulated their lives and subsequent behaviors.

Advocates of the change point to statistics that indicate a drop in motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol. They further assert that this drop is enhanced when individuals who drink agree to either allow someone else to drive them home or call a cab.

While the view among some will be that their personal freedoms are being trampled it should be noted that even at .08 America still maintains the highest allowable drinking age in the developed world. They are joined by a handful of other countries including Canada and England, but in places like Croatia and Spain there is zero tolerance for any detectable BAC level among drivers.

The majority of countries have adopted laws that allow .05 or less as the standard levels for blood alcohol.

Most people who do drink with a BAC of .08 or higher typically do not perceive they are impaired and this is likely a reason why there are complaints about the alteration in law.

However, studies show that reflexes are damaged when alcohol levels reach as little as .03 and can be greatly amplified by the time levels reach .06. Depth perception and reasoning can also be impaired the closer a driver gets to .10 in their blood alcohol content. Personal abilities are said to deteriorate much further after the BAC reaches 1.0.

Many have used a simple chart to determine the number of drinks an individual can consume and still be able to drive, but some experts contend that there are so many variables including alcohol tolerance and body size that any chart is largely unreliable.

The problem may be further exacerbated when it comes to young adults who either drink and drive while still a minor or have had very little understanding of how their body may react with alcohol. Many lives have been forever altered because of this type of scenario.

Another prevalent issue raised in conjunction with drinking and driving stems from the use or abuse of drugs while consuming alcohol. The combination of the two can cause blackouts and a severe disability to manage normal driving functions. This is often why police officers look for drivers who seem to be going much slower than the remainder of traffic. These drivers are often the ones most heavily under the influence.

The goal for traffic safety is to keep drivers off the road when they have had too much to drink.

Perhaps it is the role of enforcement that causes some to consider the decrease in allowable drinking limits to be unfair. In many cases it can be typically law-abiding citizens who may find themselves most vulnerable to a charge of driving while intoxicated.

Alcohol often plays a significant role in society. Some believe it is possible to consume spirits and maintain the safe operation of a motor vehicle others argue enough have already died at the hands of those who thought the same thing.