Drinking learner permits

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Drinking learner permits have been proposed as a way to reduce alcohol abuse among young adults. Proponents argue that learner's permits would be analogous to driving learner permits. A person who wishes to obtain a driver's license must first acquire a learner's permit. This requires that the person pass a written test of driving knowledge and then pass a test of driving ability by successfully operating a motor vehicle. Issuance of the learner's permit then allows the driver to operate a vehicle under the oversight of an older driver and the permit holder is restricted to driving only during certain hours and under a number of other restrictions designed to help the person learn to drive safely.

Proponents of alcoholic beverage drinking learner permits argue that they should be available to adults age 18 to 21 with parental or guardian permission after successfully completing an alcohol education course and written tests. The permit would restrict the locations, times, and amounts of alcohol that could legally be consumed. The permit could be revoked immediately at any time by the parents or guardians or any law enforcement officer.

Opponents of drinking learner permits argue that persons under the age of 21 should not be permitted to drink any amount of alcohol for any reason because their brains lack the necessary development and maturity.

The suggestion also carries little weight as alcohol can be legal consumed by minors in most states if it is in a private setting with parental approval. Alcohol can also be consumed by those 18 or older in many states without any approval. This could easily allow a concerned parent to moderate their child's alcohol consumption by controlling the setting and amount of alcohol provided to the under-aged drinker.

[edit] References

  • Brake, Mike. Needed: A license to drink. Newsweek, March 14, 1994.
  • Gavin, Courtney Love. A learner's permit for drinking. Morgan Hill Times, February 6, 2004.
  • Heath, Dwight B., and Hanson, David J. The misguided prohibition that governs U.S. colleges. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2001 (August 10), 47(48), p. B14.

[edit] Source

Based on materials in A Learner’s Permit for Drinking

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../d/r/i/Drinking_learner_permits.html"