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HSFPP Weekly Update # 138—Drinking and Driving

Message from Bob: Many teenagers will still drink, regardless of any efforts to stop teenage drinking. They need to know, however, that they are much better off facing the consequences for just drinking, rather than having to deal with the possible consequences of drinking and driving or riding with a driver who is drunk.

Having an insurance agent visit your class (or having teens ask pertinent questions of an insurance agent – see “Activity Involving an Outside Insurance Professional” below) could bring this message home in a way that few other activities could. When teens see the economic and emotional impact of their actions, they might alter their behavior in a positive way.

Message from Chris: In each of the last two years, a UK student has been killed before fall semester classes began because they were drunk. Alcohol kills more young people than cocaine, heroin, and every other illegal drug combined. High school students need to know the reality of drinking. Even aside from drinking and driving, alcohol can harm students in other ways, as well. Parents need to know how to talk to their teenagers about alcohol. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has a great Web site that includes the page, http://www.madd.org/under21/0,1056,1108,00.html. I suggest printing this page and making copies for students to give to their parents.

 

Related Updates:

Update #102 - Alcohol Abuse Kills Some 75,000 Americans Each Year - 18 October 2004
Update #71 / #72 - Risks Not Worth Taking - 27 October 2003

 

Web Site Pick of the Week:

http://www.madd.org/under21/

The Mothers Against Drunk Driving resource page for underage drinking features valuable materials for students, parents, and teachers.

 

Activity for Educators:

Have students read the article and the Myths about Alcohol from the Web site: http://www.madd.org/under21/0,1056,10057,00.html

Ask an insurance agent to come in and talk about the financial consequences of a DUI/DWI conviction. Or, as an alternative, ask each teen to talk with their parent or their insurance agent, using the activity questions involving an insurance professional.

 

In the New$... Group Wants Thinking Before Drinking

“In one split second, Susan Crouch's life was turned upside down.

“On April 26, 2000, her niece, KaShawn Botts, was killed in a car accident. The driver of the other car was drunk.

“After the death of her niece, Crouch became involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She now makes speeches around the state about the hazards of drunk driving, like the one she made at Memorial Hall last night.”

“The event, organized by junior Meredith Marcum, risk management chair for the Delta Delta Delta sorority, ran as a part of Alcohol Awareness Week. Marcum believes that irresponsible drinking is a problem at UK.

“‘I think the largest point that needs to be emphasized needs to be safe drinking,’ Marcum said. ‘I believe if people are educated, incidents related to alcohol will decrease, especially on campus.’
 
“‘From speaking with students, I was surprised with the number who had committed incidents of drinking and driving,’ she said. ‘They don't know where to go when the party gets busted. It's OK to leave the party, but if you have had too much to drink, you should walk instead of drive.’

“The event also tried to emphasize that there is a large group of students who do not drink at all.

“‘Know that not everyone drinks,’ MADD Youth Program Coordinator Tracey Hudson said. ‘Know that you are being smart by not drinking and not driving. Just don't drink. There are more people out there not drinking than you think there are.’

“Marcum said many young students are taken aback by the level of drinking on college campuses and wrongly assume that all college students drink.”

“Crouch told students there is nothing wrong with having a good time as long as they do so safely and responsibly.”

Source: Excerpted from “Group wants thinking before drinking,” by Chris DeLotell, Kentucky Kernel, 10/12/05.
http://www.kykernel.com/media/paper305/news/2005/10/12/CampusNews/Group.Wants.Thinking.Before.Drinking-1017609.shtml


Activity for Students:                                                                                     

Read the Myths about Alcohol from the following Web site: http://www.madd.org/under21/0,1056,10057,00.html

 

Activity Involving an Outside Insurance Professional:

Ask your family’s insurance agent what the possible consequences might be for a DUI conviction while driving your own vehicle or your family vehicle.

1.) How much would your or your family’s premiums go up? Amount _________

 

2.) Would your or your family’s auto insurance coverage change as a result of a DUI?

No ____ If yes, how much ___________________________

 

3.) Would you or another family member lose your driver’s license as a result of a DUI?

No ___ Yes ___ (If yes, for how long?) _______

 

Kentucky High School Financial Planning Program

http://www.ca.uky.edu/fcs/hsfp

The purpose of this Web site is to assist county extension agents, credit union educators, and high school teachers in improving the economic well-being of our constituency, beginning with today’s students; and also, to assist teachers in Kentucky in meeting KERA’s goal that all students become technologically literate. Weekly Updates are provided by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, and are free to all educators.