In 2005, an estimated 13.0 percent of persons aged 12 or older drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year (Figure 3.5). This percentage has dropped since 2002, when it was 14.2 percent. The 2005 estimate corresponds to 31.7 million persons.

Driving under the influence of alcohol was associated with age in 2005. An estimated 8.3 percent of 16 or 17 year olds, 19.8 percent of 18 to 20 year olds, and 27.9 percent of 21 to 25 year olds reported driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year (Figure 3.6). Beyond age 25, these rates showed a general decline with increasing age.


Among persons aged 12 or older, males were nearly twice as likely as females (17.1 vs. 9.2 percent) to drive under the influence of alcohol in the past year.