DUI and Teens: What Parents Should Know
by Barsha Bhattacharya blog 31 May 2025
The nightmare of every parent would be finding out that his or her teenagers had been charged with involving themselves in DUI (Driving Under the Influence).
Other than the direct legal implications, a teen DUI can have long-term implications in his or her education, employment, and licenses to drive.
As a parent, it is important to know how to address a teen DUI.
This will help you have a grasp of risk, consequences, and the legal process that goes on to support your child and protect his or her future.
Here is everything that every parent needs to know about teen DUIs.
What Are The Causes Of A Teen DUI?
Before labeling your kid as a rebel, you need to understand why they are showing this risky behavior.
Just like you, your teenagers go through a lot of stress and challenges growing up in a competitive academic culture.
So, it is important to know the underlying causes behind their behavioral changes. This way, you can identify the reasons and take precautionary measures to stop them from further deteriorating.
Some of the common causes behind the risky behavior of teenagers include:
• Depression and Anxiety:
If your teenager is showing signs of bad behavior, you need to delve deep into their mental health conditions.
When kids are depressed or anxious about certain traumatic experiences, they tend to deviate from their path and start consuming substances and alcohol.
And, before you know it, they might end up tangled in a serious DUI case. So, it is important to check their mental health from time to time.
• Emotional Dysregulation:
Even though you expect your teenager to express and properly regulate their emotions, end of the day, they are still kids.
Sometimes they might fail to regulate their emotions the right way. And, this can cause instances of emotional dysregulation in teenagers.
Moreover, due to their emotional dysregulation, they might take impulsive steps and actions, leading to instances of DUI. So, keep an eye out for your child for any signs of emotional imbalance.
• Mental Disorders:
Sometimes, teenagers can develop certain mental disorders when they are constantly surrounded by a traumatic environment.
Moreover, they might develop the early stages of bipolar disorder or personality disorientation. And, this might influence their decision-making ability to get involved with a DUI case.
So, as a parent, it is your responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment to your teenager to prevent such legal consequences.
The Zero Tolerance Laws
An overwhelming majority of states are making tough zero-tolerance laws for underage drinking and driving.
Teens between the ages of 18 and 21 can be arrested for DUI for having just 0.01% or 0.02% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), much lower than the 0.08% legal limit for people above 21 years.
Even one drink or even trace amounts of alcohol can result in arrest, where teens must understand how much they can do to violate a law.
Legal Penalties for Teen DUI
Although teen DUI penalties vary from state to state, some penalties may include:
- License suspension or revocation
- Fines and court fees
- Community service
- DUI education or treatment programs
- Possible jail term (particularly for repeat offences)
In several states, a DUI may be a record that remains on a teen’s driving record for years or life and hinders him or her at the college admission stage, the opportunity to enroll in scholarship programs, or get a job.
Long-Term Consequences
Other than legal punishments, a teen DUI may have severe personal and academic impacts:
- College admissions: Many applications inquire about criminal history.
- Scholarship loss: Certain programs of financial aid and scholarships may be withdrawn.
- Employment challenges: Background checks are regularly carried out by future employers.
- Auto insurance: Premiums for insurance can skyrocket or be entirely rejected.
How Your Teen’s DUI Affects Your Business Reputation?
It is not surprising to find that many business owners with high brand value often face grave consequences and reputational damage because of their child’s behavior.
Moreover, these rich teenagers have access to various kinds of harmful and intoxicating substances at a very young age. And, getting involved in a DUI case is not new.
However, you should know that your kid’s drunk behavior and driving can immensely impact your brand value and your business reputation.
For instance, if your kid gets involved with a DUI, your clients might start questioning your ethics, morality, and refuse to continue doing business with you.
So, it is important to look after the behavior of your teenager to prevent such reputational damage of your business and brand value.
How To Address A Teen DUI As A Parent?
It is important to know how you can prevent such drastic consequences in your teenager’s life. With the proper parental guidance and teachings at home, you can effectively prevent teen DUI.
Here are some ways that can help you to prevent your teenager from taking the wrong path with drinking and driving.
What Parents Can Do Immediately
If your teen gets arrested for DUI, be calm and act promptly.
- Find a criminal defense attorney who practices juvenile or DUI laws like Giuliano Law.
- Do not let your teen talk to law enforcers without a lawyer for representation.
- Collect pertinent facts such as police reports or eyewitness reports, etc.
- Make sure your teen attends all court dates and complies with everything.
A skilled DUI lawyer can help you negotiate lesser charges or have them dismissed, get alternative sentencing, or help save your teen’s record with diversion programs or expungement (if applicable).
Let This Be a Learning Experience
Although scary, a teen DUI can be a great opportunity to provide life lessons. Open communication is key. Talk to your child about:
- The dangers of impaired driving
- Peer pressure and decision-making techniques
- Legal consequences and long-term impacts
Promote accountability, but also be there for your teen emotionally as they try to cope with the aftermath.
Prevention Starts at Home
Parents can majorly assist in the prevention of teen DUIs by doing the following:
- Establishing clear guidelines and expectations for alcohol and driving.
- Providing safe alternatives such as rides, designated drivers, etc.
- Modeling responsible behavior
- Engaging and paying attention to the social life of their teenager
Why Should You Take Precautions Towards Teen DUI?
Teen DUI charges are severe, but with appropriate legal help and parental input, your kid can start afresh and pick up lessons from the incident.
With your effective guidance and precautions, you no longer need to worry about how to address a teen DUI.
If your teen is facing a DUI charge, then get in touch with a defense lawyer right away to find out what the options are and to protect their future.
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