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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking |
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are issues of concern to every Texan; and |
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WHEREAS, While concerted law enforcement and education |
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efforts have done much to curb drunk driving over the past few |
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decades, more than 10,000 alcohol-related deaths still occur on our |
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nation's roadways each year; and |
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WHEREAS, A total of 1,468 Texans died in drunk driving |
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crashes in 2017; although this number is above the national |
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average, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities overall have been on |
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the decline at both the state and national levels, and our state has |
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seen a 7.5 percent decrease in such fatalities among drivers under |
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the age of 21 in the last decade alone; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas has worked to reduce the |
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incidence of impaired driving through the use of DWI courts, law |
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enforcement training, No Refusal campaigns, ignition interlock |
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devices, alcoholism treatment, and other lifesaving |
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countermeasures; and |
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WHEREAS, Underage drinking, which continues to be a |
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persistent problem despite a decline to record-low levels in 2018, |
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is an area of particular focus for our state; the number of Texans |
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between the ages of 12 and 20 reporting alcohol consumption in the |
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past month is now around 17 percent, a decrease of 36 percent since |
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2008, and the continued cooperation of state law enforcement |
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agencies, alcohol awareness organizations, and responsible parents |
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can play an instrumental role in ensuring that our youth avoid |
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impaired driving; and |
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WHEREAS, Research shows that parents can help prevent |
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underage drinking and alcohol abuse by beginning conversations with |
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their children about alcohol use at an early age and by continuing |
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to speak with them about the issue throughout childhood, |
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adolescence, and early adulthood; with the help of |
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Responsibility.org and other organizations, 73 percent of |
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teenagers now identify parents as the leading influence in their |
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decisions regarding alcohol, representing a 33 percent increase |
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since 1991; and |
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WHEREAS, The recognition of April as Alcohol Responsibility |
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Month offers a welcome opportunity to call attention to the work |
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that must be done to further reduce the tragic impact of drunk |
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driving and underage drinking in Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 2019 as Alcohol Responsibility |
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Month and encourage all Texans to make responsible decisions |
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regarding the consumption of alcohol and to support efforts to |
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reduce drunk driving and underage drinking. |