A large part of the activities of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Cameroon is geared towards empowering women, young girls and communities on the laws that bind, and protect them. While their campaigns against violence of any form are well known, it is important to remember that legal empowerment is one of the pillars of their work. It is also important to remember that even though an overwhelming experience might indicate otherwise, not all men are drunk driving accidents waiting to happen. But, it is the experience, and the statistics regarding the likelihood of being involved in an accident with an intoxicated driver that might make women question the wisdom of being out at night.
When considering their role in raising awareness about the legal implications of alcohol consumption, FIDA Cameroon highlight the increased risks that women face when they are out late at night. While it might be tempting to disregard this advice, it serves as a reminder of the fact that under some circumstances, ignorance of the law is no defense; and when we consider driving under the influence of alcohol, there is a very real temptation to ask why FIDA would be interjecting the problem of alcohol to their campaign?
The answer, states the federation, is that they wish to raise awareness of the law that exists for the benefit of women and young girls. One of these laws is the legal alcohol limit in tn within which one can consume alcohol and still be considered safe to drive.
To fully understand the legal limit in tn and comprehend what it says about the distribution of alcohol in our country, it is necessary to look at the negative effects that ingesting too much alcohol can have on our physical health; but also at the potential social risks involved in putting our lives as well as the lives of others in the hands of someone who is intoxicated. By avoiding making the connection between responsible drinking habits and legal respect, the FIDA Cameroon have ensured that their message is effective; but, is not overwhelmingly negative.
This is because, as with most things, the goal of seeing women and young girls empowered by their knowledge of the law can be easily overridden when faced with a less pleasant statistic. When it comes to the question of respecting the law, it is very easy to emphasize the social benefits that come to those who do, or to downplay the human cost that is paid by those who don’t; however, it seems that one should never lose sight of whatever exists beyond the laws themselves, and from the consequences that arise from our failure to respect them.
The legal limit in tn is thus, only one of the items in the larger check list of FIDA Cameroon. However, its utility in combating alcohol abuse, as well as in raising awareness about the legal repercussions that anyone who drives under the influence of alcohol would face, cannot be over emphasized. The benefits that would be enjoyed by everyone if they knew, and respected the law would be immense. So when FIDA Cameroon speak of raising awareness of the legal limit in tn and all its derivatives, we can be certain that it is but the first step towards a life where the social and emotional impacts of ignorance are diminished; where individuals know their rights and can enforce them to their full extent.
For more information on alcohol laws and regulations, you can visit NHTSA’s website.