Facing charges of OWI in Wisconsin may give people the push to change their habits, but that does not mean that the temptation to drink will never return. Learning to manage triggers and control their impulses can, however, decrease their risk of getting a second OWI.
Because consequences worsen with each offense, the sooner people implement controls to prevent OWI, the better. Avoiding illegal behavior can help them maintain their driving privileges and avoid hurting other people.
Consequences of another offense
Depending on the circumstances, people charged with OWI in Wisconsin could have a consequence as simple as paying a fine, or as serious as consecutive years behind bars. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the standard level of 0.08 BAC lowers to 0.02 for people with three or more OWIs.
With mounting consequences, constant endangerment of personal well-being and negligence toward others, there are plenty of reasons why people would want to change their behavior after just one OWI.
Dealing with temptation
Effectively changing behavior requires time and consistency. The National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that people learn to recognize what triggers them to want to drink. Experts recommend challenging triggers and seeking alternative ways of coping including talking with a friend, starting a hobby and journaling thoughts.
Another idea is for people to simply avoid situations where they feel their risk of driving after drinking is higher. If they strongly desire to attend certain parties or social gatherings where there is alcohol, they should plan ahead and arrange alternate transportation to avoid the need to drive themselves.
