Did you know that the penalties for drinking and driving are more stringent for youth? If you are under the age of 21, you can be arrested for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .02 or more (The BAC threshold for adults is .08). If you are driving under the influence, you can be arrested with a BAC level lower than .02. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17 and convicted of a first time alcohol or firearm violation, or age 13 through 20 and convicted of a first time drug violation, your driving privileges will be revoked for one year or until age 17, whichever is longer. For a second offense, your driving privileges will be revoked for two years or until age 18, whichever is longer.

Sounds pretty harsh but these strict underage drinking and driving laws are in place to protect you, others in your car, and other drivers on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and about one-third of those are alcohol related. Be aware and be safe.