Women's Equality = More Drinking/DUIs for Women?

This AP story was featured on tonight's ABC World News and I found it fascinating. ABC posed the question of whether or not women's issue progress has played some role in the decreasing gap between women and men's drunk driving. (I couldn't find the story posting on ABC for their exact verbiage, but it's all the same idea.)

'Younger women feel more empowered, more equal to men, and have been beginning to exhibit the same uninhibited behaviors as men,' said Chris Cochran of the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Is it true? Are women more empowered to channel their inner, drunk-driving males because we can vote, serve in office, be scientists and mathematicians, and get abortions? Are women today pressured so much to be the Jackie of All Trades -- the mom, the career women, the engaged citizen -- that it's driving us to the bottle? Is it more acceptable today for women to drink than the environments our mothers experienced? You decide. But I think it raises some interesting questions.

I guess I'd say this makes me a little nervous, however.

The problem has caught the attention of the federal government. The Transportation Department's annual crackdown on drunken driving, which begins later this month, will focus on women.

"Focus" seems to ride a fine line here and I think it's a little concerning.

Also interesting:

Another possible reason cited for the rising arrests: Police are less likely to let women off the hook these days.

This is exactly in line with what I've experienced. I've seen more police officers display the buddy/bros attitude towards males facing potential citation and a whole heck of a lot more of a paternalistic attitude toward ladies, especially in small towns. While women might be less likely to be let off the hook, I propose men are more likely.

So, what'd we learn here today, kids? No matter how you cut it, just like the scary-ass radio ads: "Over the limit. Under arrest."