SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 536
WHEREAS, The dangers of drunk driving and underage
drinking are issues of concern to every Texan; and
WHEREAS, While concerted law enforcement and education
efforts have done much to curb drunk driving over the past few
decades, more than 10,000 alcohol-related deaths still occur on
our nation's roadways each year; and
WHEREAS, A total of 1,468 Texans died in drunk driving
crashes in 2017; although this number is above the national
average, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities overall have been
on the decline at both the state and national levels, and our
state has seen a 7.5 percent decrease in such fatalities among
drivers under the age of 21 in the last decade alone; and
WHEREAS, The State of Texas has worked to reduce the
incidence of impaired driving through the use of DWI courts, law
enforcement training, No Refusal campaigns, ignition interlock
devices, alcoholism treatment, and other lifesaving
countermeasures; and
WHEREAS, Underage drinking, which continues to be a
persistent problem despite a decline to record-low levels in
2018, is an area of particular focus for our state; the number of
Texans between the ages of 12 and 20 reporting alcohol
consumption in the past month is now around 17 percent, a
decrease of 36 percent since 2008, and the continued cooperation
of state law enforcement agencies, alcohol awareness
organizations, and responsible parents can play an instrumental
role in ensuring that our youth avoid impaired driving; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that parents can help prevent
underage drinking and alcohol abuse by beginning conversations
with their children about alcohol use at an early age and by
continuing to speak with them about the issue throughout
childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood; with the help of
Responsibility.org and other organizations, 73 percent of
teenagers now identify parents as the leading influence in their
decisions regarding alcohol, representing a 33 percent increase
since 1991; and
WHEREAS, The recognition of April as Alcohol
Responsibility Month offers a welcome opportunity to call
attention to the work that must be done to further reduce the
tragic impact of drunk driving and underage drinking in Texas;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby recognize April 2019 as Alcohol
Responsibility Month and encourage all Texans to make
responsible decisions regarding the consumption of alcohol and
to support efforts to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking.
Hancock
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 4, 2019.
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Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate