New legal limit is not that much of a difference

After the first full weekend of Indiana's new 0.08 legal limit being enforced, a couple of things are certain.

One, it's not that big of a change. From 0.10 to 0.08 isn't going to ruin your fun. Depending on several different factors that affect your Blood Alcohol Content, the difference from a 0.10 to 0.08 could be the difference between finishing that last drink before you leave the bar.

Second, it's not a rule change that's going to change your life.

Such a fuss was raised about the big 0.08 change when it was first being talked about and people realized that it would become a reality.

The fact is, those who get charged with DUI and OWI aren't generally flirting with the 0.08, or even the 0.10 level. Most of those who get arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol usually blow twice that.

The only people that the 0.08 might affect, are the casual, after-work drinkers. Those who make a one or two drink stop on the way home from the office. These are the people who should be afraid.

Those who frequent the popular off-campus bars shouldn't be afraid of this law change at all. You're going to be beyond the legal limit when you leave, and for some of you, that's your goal. This isn't saying that all students go out to the bars with plans of becoming intoxicated (though you can bet there is a large percentage of those who make this a weekend goal). This is merely to point out that those who are the most worried, shouldn't be.

The 0.08 isn't going to stop those who are destined to get pulled over. If you're one of those drinkers that goes out on the town with the sole goal of becoming obliterated, then you deserve to lose your license if you decide you want to drive home. Your type should be planning your rides home more carefully anyway.

The 0.08 might, however, might deter the after hour cocktail consumers.

If you are really afraid that the 0.08 is going to get you, take a cab. Most of them will only cost you between four-to-eight dollars depending on where you want to go. It's a lot cheaper than what you'd shell out as a result of being charged with DUI or OWI.

It's hard to complain about the new law when one simply stops to think about how alcohol-related incidents have occurred in this and the surrounding communities within the past year.

More than 340 Hoosiers lost their lives on Indiana roads last year in alcohol related crashes.

Is 0.08 going to save lives? There is no way of knowing the answer to that this early. However, if it does scare people off the road after a couple of margaritas on a Tuesday afternoon, then that certainly will increase the likelihood that the roads will be safer.

The new 0.08 wasn't established to increase the number of arrests, it was established to decrease the number of deaths.

Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Kurt Esposito, Jamie Teibel, Kyle Boggs, Morgan Conklin

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