Sobering Up

Last month the United States Supreme Court in Missouri v. McNeely ruled to uphold a Missouri Supreme Court ruling in which the defendant, charged with DUI, moved to suppress results from a blood test obtained by the arresting officer without the defendant’s consent or a search warrant, claiming the unauthorized test violated his Fourth Amendment [...]

Cinco de Mayo has entered the mainstream as a holiday, celebrated with good food and many times, an icy adult beverage. With the holiday falling on a Sunday this year, the potential for more people driving home impaired this weekend after their local fiestas is greater than if the holiday occurred on a weekday. How [...]

On April 29th, the second annual All Rise America! Relay for Recovery will commence in Santa Maria, California, kicking off a month-long, cross country tour that will highlight National Drug Court Month. The 3,500 mile road trip will make stops at 50 courts in 25 different communities with established Drug Courts, DWI Courts, or Veterans Treatment [...]

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in the case of Missouri vs. McNeely that police officers must “usually” obtain a warrant before conducting blood draws on suspected impaired drivers. Justice Sotomayor delivered the Court’s opinion that the natural metabolism of alcohol does not grant a “per se” exigency that allows a blanket exception to the 4th [...]

Every April since 1987, the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month in order to help individuals, families, and communities learn about the disease of alcoholism and bring attention to alcohol-related issues affecting their community. This year’s theme, “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow” is focused on underage drinking and [...]

In the UK it is estimated that 2.6 million children live with a parent whose drinking puts them at risk of neglect, and 705,000 live with a dependent drinker. What does this mean for a family? Alcohol plays a part in 25-33% of known cases of child abuse, alcohol use is a contributor in a [...]

On St. Patrick’s Day, over 122 million Americans will observe the Catholic Saint’s Feast Day by wearing the green or making a traditional Irish meal. Celebrations will often include hoisting a pint of Guiness or a measure of whiskey at a favorite local pub, and perhaps playing a round of Pub Trivia. In honor of [...]

Danish soccer player Niklas Bendtner is paying a heavy price for drunk driving without a valid license this past Sunday in downtown Copenhagen. On Tuesday, Bendtner was been fined the equivalent of $147,000US and had his driving privileges revoked for three years. Also, the Danish Football Association suspended Bendtner from international play for six months. How [...]

The discussion about impaired driving in Colorado has recently focused on the issue of drugged driving with the passage of Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana in the state of Colorado in 2012. Since passage of the law, criminal justice stakeholders, the state law enforcement community, highway safety community, and the medical marijuana industry have been [...]

Phusion Projects, LLC, the makers of the malt beverage drink Four Loko, has been ordered by the FTC to change their labeling to better reflect the true alcohol content in the drink’s fruity flavored, brightly-colored 23.5 ounce can. Phusion Projects had been accused of deceptive advertising by claiming that a 23.5 ounce can of Four [...]