January 27, 2025

Peer Pressure and DUIs: How Young Adults Can Make Safer Choices

Learn how peer pressure and DUIs impact young adults and find strategies to make safer, smarter choices in social situations.

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facing the facts on teenage drunk driving

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Table of Contents

Contributors & Editors

Dane Perikly

Director of Virtual Services & DUI Education

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Last Update on January 14, 2025

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DIRECTOR OF VIRTUAL SERVICES

Dane is the Director of Virtual services at Cornerstone. He contributes guides on DUI education so that you can understand all there is to know about DUI charges, education, and the overall process of meeting Arizona requirements after a DUI. He cares deeply about raising awareness of the dangers of DUI and illustrating the impact on victims and on those charged.

Peer pressure and DUIs are, unfortunately, related. The former can have a big influence on the decisions you make, especially when it comes to drinking and driving. Social pressure can make people do things they wouldn’t do otherwise and get into dangerous situations like DUIs.

Knowing how peer pressure works is one of the best ways for you to prevent it from happening to you or your friends. This article explains practical ways to recognize and resist peer pressure, make good choices, and stay safe.

Peer Pressure and DUIs

Peer pressure can get young adults to make decisions they know are reckless, like drinking and driving.1 Social events often involve alcohol, and young adults may feel pressure to join in and not to feel left out.

They may also be pressured by friends to drive drunk or get into a car with someone who has been drinking. These scenarios show how social dynamics can fog your judgment and increase risk.

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Consequences of DUIs for Young Adults

Driving drunk can have serious and long-term consequences:

  • Legal penalties: Fines, legal fees, and possible jail time.
  • License suspension: Losing your driving privileges, making your everyday life harder.
  • Criminal record: A DUI can affect your job and housing opportunities for life.
  • Personal losses: Education, relationships, and career paths can all be derailed.

 

For young adults, these outcomes can break important milestones, so it’s best to avoid peer pressure and DUIs that may stem from it altogether.

Recognizing Peer Pressure and How to Respond

Peer pressure isn’t always obvious; it often comes in the form of subtle hints, jokes, or FOMO (fear of missing out). Recognizing these moments is key to making good choices.

Some ways to respond:

  • Practice refusal skills: Learn simple, firm ways to say no without explaining.
  • Plan ahead: Have an answer ready, like “I’m driving tonight” or “I have an early morning tomorrow.”
  • Have supportive peers: Hang out with friends who respect your limits and value safety.

QUICK TIP

Plan Ahead to Avoid Peer Pressure and DUIs

Before going out, plan how you’ll get home. Pick a designated driver, plan a rideshare, or plan to stay somewhere safe overnight. Making these plans can help you and your friends stay safe and avoid finding yourself or one of your friends in a situation where social pressure may encourage you or someone else to drink and drive.

Tips for Making Safer Choices

Planning ahead can have a heavy impact on reducing the risks of DUI.

Identify a designated driver. Have a friend who won’t drink so that they can get everyone home safe. You can also use rideshares. Uber and Lyft are safe and convenient alternatives to driving.2

Host alcohol-free events and think of ways to have fun without drinking.

Set boundaries, promise yourself ahead of time that you won’t drink, or ride with a person who hasn’t been drinking.

Taking control of your plans can help you avoid being placed in a situation where peer pressure may influence you into making unsafe choices.

How to Help Your Friends Avoid a DUI

You can help your friends stay in safer settings and make safer choices to avoid peer pressure and DUIs by:

  • Offering to be the designated driver for your group.
  • Encouraging responsible drinking practices, such as pacing your drinks or not drinking too much.
  • Intervening if someone is going to drive after drinking, offer them another way to get home.
  • Setting a standard in your friend group of putting safety first.

 

Actions like these can save lives and reinforce the importance of making responsible choices.

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The Importance of Education and Awareness

DUI education plays a huge role in preventing DUIs. Community programs, school initiatives, and open family discussions help young adults with the tools they need to resist peer pressure and make safer decisions.

Awareness of the risks of drinking and driving empowers young adults to put safety for themselves and others first. It can make a huge difference in preventing peer pressure and DUIs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Peer pressure can make you want to fit in, so even if you know the risks, you may drink or drive under the influence. This can be direct, like being told to “just have one more,” or indirect, through the fear of being left out if you don’t join in.

A DUI can mean large fines, a suspended license, and a criminal record. It can disrupt your education, limit your job opportunities, and damage your personal relationships. The stigma and financial burden can also lead to long-term emotional stress, so it’s a life-changing and often devastating event.

You can resist peer pressure by setting clear boundaries and being assertive, like saying, “No, I’m not drinking tonight.” Planning safe alternatives like using rideshares, taxis, or having a designated driver can help you avoid drunk driving. Building self-confidence and surrounding yourself with friends who also want to stay safe makes it easier to avoid risky situations.

Families can play a big role by having open, nonjudgmental conversations about the risks of drinking and driving. Educate young adults on the legal and personal consequences and offer practical ways to handle peer pressure. Reinforcing, supporting, and modeling appropriate behaviors can help you with decision-making and guide you toward making safer, more mindful choices in social situations.

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Key Takeaways

Take Control of Peer Pressure and Make Safer Choices

Peer pressure can lead to DUIs, but it doesn’t have to.3 By understanding peer pressure and taking action to prevent DUI, you can keep yourself and your friends safe.

Get support at Cornerstone DUI if you struggle with drinking or get a DUI and need help. Never let peer pressure get to you, and you’ll live safer.

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