Anti-DUI Technology & the Restaurant Biz

This article in Chain Leader got me to thinking.

The restaurant and bar business is worried that automakers will soon install ignition block devices in cars that prevent drivers with excessive blood alcohol levels from starting the engine. The technology already exists and is often installed on the vehicles of chronic drunk drivers. Simply taking away their licenses doesn't really work, especially if the offender needs his or her car to get to work. And since drunks often can't (or won't) self-regulate their drinking, we rely instead on technology.

But the alcohol industry and some in the food business worry such devices will curb what they euphemistically call "responsable drinking." Americans don't like someone telling them what to do. It's an "innocent until proven guilty" philosophy that's consistent with our traditions of jurisprudence, but can hurt many innocent people who are hit or even killed by drunk drivers. It's the same as with gun control: I have a right to own a gun until I use it in a crime.

But if carmakers install ignition-lock breathalizer devices, won't it take the onus off bars & restaurants to police their customers or even get sued if they let someone obviously drunk drive away? It likely will limit alcoholic beverage consumption, at least until we figure out how much we can drink and still drive. Right now, most people who drink even moderately when driving don't really know if they're below or above the limit. And frankly, as a society, we do a poor job of self-regulating. I have friends who always insist they're "fine," but we have no way of knowing until they get caught up in a sweep or are pulled over.

The ultimate question is: what's "responsable" drinking? Without a reliable way of measuring the amount of blood alcohol, we rely on one another to "do the right thing" while waiting until someone who may think he or she is drinking responsably (but isn't) gets stopped, arrested-- or worse, hurts someone. Then we clamp down. We should also remember the alcohol lobby and some in the restaurant industry opposed bans on smoking, saying that would harm sales or even put some bars out of business. Doesn't seem to have happened from all I can tell.

The only impact looks to be the smokers huddled outside in inclement weather and the upsurge in butts ground out on the sidewalks next to the doors.

And wasn't there a hue and cry about mandatory seat belts?

Like I say, we Americans don't like someone telling us what to do, even if it's the right thing to do.

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