KW has 3 DUIs in the span of 12 years with the last one coming 8 years ago. I don't think that necessarily makes him an alcoholic, more like someone that has made piss poor decisions.
I agree. Having a substance abuse problem is a different issue than driving drunk. I have great sympathy for those battling substance abuse,
but I do not understand why people drive impaired. It is too easy to get a ride home.
Well, imagine you're out downtown enjoying a few drinks when all of a sudden it's bar close. You rationalize you can't get home that easily, your car is parked nearby and you don't want to get a ticket or be towed, and you're "fine" and really didn't have that much to drink.
Next thing you know, you're behind the wheel.
I'm not excusing the behavior - far from it, in fact. Driving while impaired is one of the most selfish things people can do. But, the rationalization for why people choose to drive drunk really isn't any different than the thought process people use to do any number of stupid things. The stakes for driving while impaired are just that much higher.
The most recent statistics I saw were that someone is injured in a drunk driving related crash every two minutes across the country. Many people just don't view drunk driving as a serious offense, which is sad.