Wisconsin: The Nation’s Drinking (and Drunk Driving) Capitol
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a new blog dedicated to issues of drinking, laws, and culture in Wisconsin, entitled “Wasted in Wisconsin“. It is dedicated to exploring the fact that Wisconsin has the highest per-capita drinking rates in the nation, and the causes and effects that has on the state with regard to drunk driving, and other negative impacts of drinking on our society.
One recent post lays our the convictions for drunk driving (OWI) statewide since 1989, including a breakdown of multiple convictions. As it turns out, nearly 500,000 individuals have had one or more Wisconsin drunk driving conviction in that time.
That is a staggering figure. With a state population of 5.5 million, that means that nearly 9 % of the population of Wisconsin has had a drunk driving conviction in that time. Some of those convictions may have been from out of state residents, but there also could be out of state convictions for Wisconsin residents not counted in that mix.
If those stats are true, then most everyone in the state has a friend, neighbor, or co-working with an drunk driving conviction. And that also doesn’t include anyone who may have been arrested, but not convicted.
So Wisconsin resident’s alcohol use and the laws that seek to prevent the negative societal affects of underage drinking, binge drinking, and drunk driving is a fascinating and timely topic. Kudos to the Journal Sentinel for tackling it. Hopefully the continuing coverage and analysis will be thoughtful and practical. We’ll be reading.
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If you are facing criminal or drunk driving (OWI) charge in Wisconsin, contact my law office for a free legal consultation.
