Playing Under the Influence

There is no question about the growing prominence of alcohol within the teen community. Through drinking games and new slang, teens are becoming more and more immersed into the world of alcohol at a very young age. 

   Professional athletes are also no stranger to the whims of alcohol, as there have been many controversies regarding the manipulative substance. Recently, this issue has been brought to a forefront, with young NFL star Henry Ruggs of the Las Vegas Raiders getting into a fatal car accident on the Vegas strip. 

   Ruggs was driving over 150 miles per hour when he struck another car, and killed the driver on impact. He was charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence, two felony counts of reckless driving, and to cap it off, a misdemeanor gun charge. As a result, Ruggs could be facing a sentence of up to 50 years.

   In regards to the accident, Senior Shaan Sandhu stated that “it is very disappointing that someone with great influence on the younger generation would make such a poor choice.” This incident should be a warning to any who think that they can safely drive drunk. Someone is dead because of Ruggs’ decision, and frankly, he is lucky to be alive. 

   It is never safe to drive after having too much to drink, and for teenagers, this issue is paramount, as legally, if they have one drop of alcohol in their system, they could be charged with driving under the influence. In regards to teenage drinking and driving, freshman Owen Powers stated that “it sucks to hear about drunk driving accidents, because to me it seems like a simple decision to make.” 

   In reality, it should be an easy decision to make. Teenagers should be aware enough to not get behind the wheel after they drink, because the reality is the drinking aspect can not be stopped, but the awareness can be ramped up a level. As a community, we must inform our teens that driving while under the influence is NEVER an option. It puts themselves at risk, but more importantly, it puts the lives of every other driver on the road at risk. 

   To all the teenagers reading this, including myself, if you drink, call someone you trust to get you home, or stay where you are. Never get behind the wheel after you drink.