The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of exposure to others’ drink driving during
adolescence on self-reported driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol in young adulthood. Data were
drawn from 1956 participants with a driving license enrolled in the International Youth Development
Study from Victoria, Australia. During 2003 and 2004, adolescents in Grades 7, 9 and 10 (aged 12–17)
completed questionnaires examining whether they had ridden in a vehicle with a driver who had been
drinking, as well as other demographic, individual, peer and family risk factors for DUI. In 2010, the
same participants (aged 18–24) then reported on their own DUI behaviour. 18% of young adults with a
driving license reported DUI in the past 12 months. Exposure to others’ drink driving during adolescence
was associated with an increased likelihood of DUI as a young adult (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.68–2.69). This
association remained after accounting for the effects of other potential confounding factors from the
individual, peer and family domains (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.23–2.13). Observing the drink driving behaviours
of others during adolescence may increase the likelihood of DUI as a young adult. Strategies to reduce
youth exposure to drink driving are warranted.