Learn
Know the science, the law, and the cost.
Three substances, three sets of consequences. Open any section for what it does to your body, what it does to your license, and what it costs the people around you.
The science
- Alcohol is a depressant. It slows reaction time, blurs night vision and weakens judgment in the same minutes driving demands all three.
- Your BAC keeps rising for 30–90 minutes after your last drink. The "I feel fine" window is often the most dangerous one.
- One standard drink takes about an hour to clear. Nothing speeds that up: not coffee, not food, not a cold shower.
The law
- Every state has a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21. A BAC of 0.00–0.02% (sometimes one drink) is enough for a DUI and a suspended license.
- A first DUI usually means fines, court costs, an ignition interlock, higher insurance and a record that appears on college and job applications.
- Refusing a breath or blood test can still cost you your license in most states.
The real cost
- About 37 people die every day in U.S. drunk-driving crashes. That is roughly one person every 39 minutes (NHTSA).
- Teens who drink and drive are far more likely to be in a fatal crash than teens who do not. Their passengers are usually their friends.
- A first DUI commonly costs thousands in legal fees, fines and insurance before the license comes back.
From the film
The statistics have faces.
Twenty seconds of the interviews the numbers above come from — the same story, told by the person driving.
More previewsMyth vs. fact
What you have heard, next to what happens.
"I've only had two. I'm fine."
Impairment starts before you feel it. Weight, food, time and what you drank decide your BAC — not your mood.
"Coffee and a shower sober me up."
Only time clears alcohol, about one standard drink per hour. Nothing you eat or drink changes that number.
"Weed makes me drive slower, so it's safer."
Slower is not safer. It slows reaction time and lane control and roughly doubles your crash risk.
"I only looked down for a second."
At highway speed a second is about 88 feet. Five is a football field. The road does not wait.
"Nobody actually gets caught for this."
Most impaired drives end without a stop. The ones that don't can end with a lost license, a record, or someone's life.
The 60-second plan
Four moves that keep a bad night from becoming a permanent one.
Decide before you leave
Pick your ride home while you are still sober: a designated driver, a parent, a rideshare. Decide once, and the night cannot decide for you.
Never hand over the keys
If a friend has had anything, take the keys, order the ride, or call their parents. Being the "annoying" friend beats the alternative.
Get out of the car
If you realise the driver is impaired, do not stay polite. Ask to pull over, get out somewhere safe and call for a ride.
Make the call
Parents are usually less angry about a 1 a.m. pickup than you expect. Pick one adult you can text with no questions asked.