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State crackdowns

Article Abstract:

Many states are moving towards enacting drunk driving legislation due to the US government's moves to link such legislation to federal highway funding. Four of five requirements must be met if states wish to avail of funds from the federal government. These are: rules that mandate revocation of drunk drivers' licenses, the setting up of sobriety checkpoints, stricter enforcement of the minimum drinking age law, enactment of drunk driving prevention laws and the establishment of a 0.10 blood-alcohol content standard for drunk driving.

Drunk driving

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Drinking-age debate

Article Abstract:

Government agencies and state governments are all for tougher enforcement of the minimum drinking age law, but legal, budgetary and other constraints are slowing down the effort. The national focus on the traffic of illegal drugs has also channelled resources away from enforcement of the drinking age law. Critics of the law point out that better education on the dangers of alcohol abuse, rather than the drinking age limit, should be credited for the fall in drunk driving-related deaths.

Statistics, Public opinion, Traffic accidents, Drinking age, Drinking and traffic accidents

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Should the surgeon general crack down on underage drinking?

Article Abstract:

The US surgeon general is tasked with addressing the prominent health issues in the country. The surgeon general has seen it fit to focus on the the issue of underage drinking, chastising beer advertisements and calling for tougher enforcement of drinking age laws. Critics of these moves, however, point out that more pressing health issues, such as the AIDS epidemic, infant mortality and drug abuse, deserve the attention of the surgeon general more than teenage drunks.

Powers and duties, United States. Public Health Service

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