how much alcohol would you be willing to exchange for the death of a loved family member from a head on crash with a drunk driver...
At an emotional level, none, of course. Unlike Conservatives in this country, I am a human being after all.
Scientifically, about US$1 million - US$2 million of the stuff which is what your industries have valued the average life as being "worth" here.
But the problem again is less one of alcohol and more of America's weak stance and pathetic social attitudes towards drink driving in this country.
In England, all Police carry electronic breathalyzers and all drivers are tested, regardless, when stopped by the Police. If you are caught over the limit you can get a prison sentence and will get a 1-3 year driving ban. The severity of the sentence depends, in part, on how far over the blood alcohol limit you are.
It is also a taboo in England to drink ANY ALCOHOL and drive. People simply take public transport instead, if they are to drink, (another thing Americans are desperately lacking) or nominate a driver who refrains from drinking at all.
Not so in this country, where my neighbor got off after a court challenge. The fact that your officers often use a "field sobriety test" rather than electronic instruments to determine whether a driver has been drinking is, quite frankly, insulting. They can only test if the driver has been "suspected" of drinking. Again, weak.
Even when carried, in MOST states using a breathalyzer is optional and it is not an offence to refuse to take this test.
So I emphasize my previous point, alcohol is a symptom and the not the cause of your failing society. People who earn a decent wage, have a sense of dignity and are assured access to essential services such as healtcare and education rarely feel the need to turn to drink.
In the US of Alcoholics, you may have few other choices.
On a final note, one thing that I find strange here is people go to a bar alone to get drunk.
In Europe, 99.9% of people go to bars not to get drunk, but just to have one drink with friends and go home.