Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Noun Phrase 139. The noun phrase today is
designated driver. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. A designated driver is
a person chosen or volunteers. Maybe he willingly does it, to be the person to do
the driving during a social engagement when a group
of people go out to an event in which all or most of the people in the vehicle
plan to drink alcohol that night. Okay. The origin of this term was originally
created in the 1920s in Scandinavia. However this term was not popularized in
English until the late 1980s or at least not in America. That's when it started to
become popular. When there was a realization that it was the leading
cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 to 24. Yeah. So you
know, of course drinking and driving was then one of the main causes. Yeah. I think
I think I remember that there was even a group called MADD Mothers Against you
know drunk driving MADD Mothers Against Drunk Driving. So it was a real campaign
kind of going at that time when, when this was brought out because it was very
very common. Let's continue here. It's very common that many youths, especially
students especially college students. College students often used to go out
you know, drinking you know, most weekends. You know, unless it was around the time
of midterms or finals when they had to get serious. But they did a lot or maybe
even some high school students. Some seniors. Here a lot of states you know,
used to have a drinking age around 18 at that time and you know so it was very
very common for them to go do that. Even a lot of colleges. I do remember that
used to have bars at the college. Colleges had a bar on campus and I know since
that time since the drinking age has been raised so much all those bars had
to go out because college students are not allowed
to drink anymore. Most of them have turned into coffee shops now. Anyway,
let's continue. The Harvard University School of Public Health
Center started a campaign to adopt and start promoting this idea. You know the
idea of a designated driver in the US. And around that time many states started
to raise the drinking age limit. Laws punishing drunk drivers also got
stricter. Or started to get stricter and there is evidence really that you know
all of these factors together did cause the you know, drunk driving deaths to
greatly be reduced at that time. So yeah I think now I just recently checked I
didn't realize that that they say that all 50 states actually it's illegal for
anyone under 21 to buy alcohol. Now there are some exceptions with you might be
able to drink alcohol like if you're with your parents or something like that
in some states. Some of those laws vary but all 50 states don't allow you to buy
it. And I know they got stricter to with making people show proof when they are
buying alcohol. So it doesn't even matter if you look like a really old man. You
have to show your ID just to do it because that's what they say now. They
would spot check to make sure that it's all proven. So that just so you know a
store can't say hey well he looked like he was a you know over 21 to me. So
that's the way it is now. Okay. Anyway. So let's continue here. So we have three you
know, two examples of how we would use this. So John volunteered to be the
designated driver when we go to the nightclub this weekend. So maybe John
really never does drink. Or you know if you are somebody that drinks I don't
know if you'll have as much fun because you know people they relax more and they
get looser when they drink but or maybe maybe they just may take turns.
You know if they all go out a lot. All right. This time you be the designated
driver. Next time I'll be the designated driver. Yeah. So it's, it's kind of safer
for them. If they did go out you know, young people today. Even people that are
in their early 20s and stuff like that that may even be above the you know,
drinking age 21. Let's continue. The second one here we need to invite Bob he
never drinks. He can be the designated driver when we go bar-hopping. So maybe
these are still young people. Maybe you know after they got out of college or
they're above the age and they can drink now. Or even though to be
honest, I know some college students do get alcohol but it's a lot tougher for
them to drink and drive. then it used to be. And then that has
helped to reduce some drunk driving accidents. Okay. Anyway, I hope you got it.
I hope it's clear. I hope it was informative. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.