New Drinking Rules

A week ago the Omaha World-Herald published an article about underage drinking and the new bill looking to be passed in Nebraska. The bill would remind minors about the consequences and dangers of underage drinking. Legislative Bill 258 is read as such. "Nebraska youths convicted of minor in possession would lose their driver’s licenses for 60 to 90 days for a first offense and for at least six months for a second conviction. MIP offenders not yet old enough to drive would have to wait six months for their permit or license, with another six-month delay for a second offense." To me this means that underage drinking has become an even larger problem for kids in Nebraska. You don’t have to look hard to see the results of underage drinking. Each year, alcohol-related accidents claim the lives of thousands of young adults across the country. The Centers for Disease Control reports that about 4,700 people a year age 21 and younger die from alcohol-related causes. According to the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, teen drivers ages 16-19 represent 7 percent of all licensed drivers yet account for 16 percent of the accidents where alcohol was a factor. Yet even with this new rule one has to ask if it'll really make a difference. In today society no matter how old you are, drinking is considered cool. If we really want to fix the problem we have to change the way are culture looks at alcohol consumption. This new bill may do its best to keep minors from drinking but I believe in the long run it will not have the desired effect that many people would hope for. I agree with the idea of the bill but not he concepts. I believe it will not work and a new idea needs to be looked at. Drinking is a tough subject for many people so if this bill is to work parents, and minors need to change their ways as an example to others before they can ever hope for any real change.