Real Kato Blog: Drinking News

A MADD volunteer is arrested; a North Carolina bill is proposed to prevent underage drinking; and a beer company markets alcoholic energy drinks.

A volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Connecticut was arrested on Sunday for... you guessed it, driving under the influence. Amy D'Aniello of North Branford, Connecticut, was pulled over for going 75 MPH in a 45 MPH zone, and had an alcohol level an "unspecified amount above the state's 0.08% legal limit".

There are unsubstantiated accounts of a new group forming in Connecticut: Mothers Against Mothers Against Drunk Driving Who Also Drive Drunk, or MAMADDWADD.

A bill here in North Carolina is proposing that adults who provide alcohol for underage drinkers be penalized by having their driver's license suspended. This is the knee-jerk response to a drunk-driving accident last year that killed four high school students. Critics of the bill said that it would criminalize things as simple as having a kid fetch a beer from the fridge, since "mere possession is illegal" under the bill's wording. Also pointed out as illegal activities: sharing a beer with an 18-year-old son who's about to go off to Iraq, or a champagne toast at an 18-year-old daughter's wedding.

Two things: one, this smacks of yet another attempt to discourage parents from teaching their kids to drink responsibly. Two, it's already illegal for adults to provide alcohol to minors. Is the threat of more punishment for the adults really going to stop kids from getting a case of PBRs if they want to? If I were a teenager, my plan would be: (1) get booze from an adult that I like and trust; (2) when asked where I got my booze, tell them it came from my school principal.

Here's something we should be fighting. Anheuser-Busch has developed a line of caffeinated alcoholic "energy" drinks. Most likely inspired by the popularity of mixing Red Bull and vodka, Anheuser-Busch is marketing drinks like TILT, Spykes, and Bud Extra, with advertising slogans like "You Can Sleep When You're 30". I guess they're not hiding the fact that these drinks are targeted at people under 30, the people most likely to believe mistakenly that caffeine can offset the effects of alcohol.

If you ask me, "wide-awake drunk" is the worst kind of drunkenness. Passing out is what prevents you from doing too many stupid things while you're drunk. Why prolong your drunkenness... and increase the chance that you'll end up going home from the bar with an ugly person?

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Posted by Ken in: commentary

Comments

Comment #1 from Your Wife (Guest)
2007 May 18 - 10:32 am : #

OH the drunk dialing that this will create...

Comment #2 from Crouching Hamster (Guest)
2007 May 20 - 9:47 pm : #

I did the Sparks scene with the kids back in the day. We'd be up all night walking around town, talking loudly, admiring the architecture. Now I stick to champagne and then gracefully pass out with the rest of them. Much more civilized.

Comment #3 from Ellen Brasington (Guest)
2007 May 26 - 11:59 pm : #

Forget caffeine!

TURKEY LEGS!!! YEH!!!!

Comment #4 from Brett (Guest)
2007 Jun 2 - 2:07 pm : #

Prolong and improve my drunkeness, you say? Targeted towards attractive 20 year old girls, is it? Increase my chance of going home with a beautiful girl from bar, you warn?? Selective hearing, you might add? Ok...I'm listening, please, go on.

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