A while back, I was talking with a friend who runs a local
business. He shared with me interviews with two great candidates
for his company. These young people (age 22-24) had relevant
skills, ambition and seemed to be promising hires. As part of
his business, he routinely conducts background checks on all new
employees. The two checks on these individuals found that both
had DWI offenses on their records. Much to his disappointment,
the increased cost to manage the associated risks made it so he
could not afford to hire them. My friend's disappointment is not
surprising. Alcohol is the drug of choice among America's youth.
Underage drinking is deeply embedded in our culture. Many youth
begin drinking before age 13. By 15, about half of youth have
had a drink of alcohol. In some cases, the first drink is viewed
as a rite of passage; in others, it is even facilitated by
adults. Once youth start drinking, they drink less frequently
than adults; but, they tend to drink more heavily. The Texas
Department of State