Keith’s conundrum: the Maritime Molson Indy
A judge just ruled this week on a man who was over the legal limit for alcohol consumption where a young boy was killed on a bicycle. An accident reconstruction indicated that alcohol was not a factor in the fatality due to the nature of the accident. Another 26-year-old woman was convicted and sentenced following a fatality of her a friend, a passenger where she was drunk and took the car off the road into the ditch.
It doesn’t matter about the names, or the specifics.
There will be more of these — many more. Simply incarcerating for life or giving the death penalty to drunk drivers won’t make a difference either. Despite what some say, it is not a question of deterrence. People will drink and drive — less, mind you, than in times past due to education and acquired societal censure, but drink and drive they will.
In the Maritimes, the problem is particularly acute for a variety of reasons: Celtic culture and reduced public transit, a relatively low population density with large rural areas; not enough cabs; most importantly, when it comes to cabs, income. Reduced income also means less disposable income for cabs themselves at longer distances.
Let’s talk about these economic metrics. The average Maritime resident has a combined household income of 53K, with two kids. Recreational drinking costs, over the course of a year, mandate that many people will play the angles and push the legal envelope of restraint. It is a fact that no one talks about.
The highest consumers of alcohol are also those who can least afford to recreationally drink safely, 18- to 34-year-olds. Now, many of these are also students who can stumble home, but many drive too.
The NSLC recently recorded record booze sales; the bar industry in Halifax alone employs hundreds and generates huge profits. Not to mention the liquor industry that promotes itself and, by extension, government profits.
There is an entire advertising/marketing culture and culture of reward/entitlement at work, as well as the usual human inclination to self-medicate. Even apes in the wild consume fermented fruit. It is also human nature. Fortunately apes don’t drive cars, but if they could, they would. And if the government could find some way to tax apes they would as well.
What we are left with is the lie of individual human responsibility where the collective society gets the real “get out of jail free” card.
Yes, people are responsible for their own actions. But a society that benefits so handsomely should stop winking at us and waiting for those who will inevitably fail - or kill.
The next time you hear a beer commercial, or see one on TV, or watch the Molson Indy, think about that ‘get out of jail free card’ that the system and the culture holds.
This Bud’s for you.
Cheers.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
“And if the government could find some way to tax apes they would as well.” Genius Andrew. Exceptional commentary on the factors that lead to drinking and driving, I cannot agree with you more. The aggressive advertising tactics liquior corporations have developed are dispicable. Worst though is that every major radio and television company, as well as print medium are providing a vehicle for this trash to be showcased. For the life of me I can not understand how ‘big liquoir’ continues to get away with what they do in light of the adverse effects the product has on such a wide sweep of its consumers. Meanwhile, tobacco has been stuffed so far back in the closet (or drawer tucked out of the consumers sight) that independant merchants who have relied on cigarettes as their cashcow are no longer making money.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Thank you for that opinion. Nicely written and enjoyable to read. I also think that no matter the penalties for drunk drivers some people will always drive drunk. So if the problem can not be resolved with legislation, then the logical approach would be to apply a different formula to solve the equation sort of like a mathematical problem if you would.
What I am suggesting is not new and it is this: each vehicle on the road today and all futur vehicles would be retrofit to have biometric sensory devices imbedded throughout steering wheel, seat of the driver, ignition interface with bio-sensor and also ambient air sensors that would prevent the vehicle from starting when alcohol is present. The technology was not available before but now it is. Surely if humans can remotely operate a laboratory vehicle on planet Mars they can also build a car that will not start if the idiot behind the wheel is drunk.