"INTOXICATION NATION," ON "20/20," FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 ON ABC
From celebrities and alcoholism to kids attending binge-drinking black out parties and the dangers of walking while intoxicated, "20/20" reports on drinking in America today. "Intoxication Nation," anchored by Elizabeth Vargas, airs on "20/20" on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Reports include:
Actress Kristen Johnston: What is it about celebrity that seems to spawn alcoholism? In a revealing and often hilarious interview, former "3Rd Rock from the Sun" star Kristen Johnston speaks candidly about the harrowing experiences of being a young actress whose insecurity and struggles with fame led to an addiction problem which nearly killed her. "I thought it was cool� you know, I could outdrink the basketball team," she tells Elizabeth Vargas about drinking.
Kids These Days: Kids these days are devising more degenerate and dangerous ways to get wasted. As former teen alcoholic Koren Zailckas says, behavior that was once considered uncool - like drinking until you black out - is now being celebrated. Vodka now comes in kid-friendly flavors like bubble gum, cotton candy, marshmallow and peanut butter & jelly. Kids don't even need fake IDs anymore -- some online vendors will ship alcohol to anyone who places an order. Vargas reports.
DUI Wars: In their efforts to crack down on drunk driving, cops are doing much more than videotaping and random checkpoints; they are also conducting undercover stings in bars and dispensing summonses before drunks ever get in their vehicles. These all sound like well-intentioned measures, but some question whether the cops have gone too far. Is drunk driving really the epidemic we're told it is? And have we now declared war on social drinking? Cecilia Vega reports.
Drunk Walking Dangers: The girl who stumbled into the wrong house and got herself shot... The countless drunk pedestrians who get hit by cars� These stories are emblematic of a widely under-reported phenomenon, the dangers of drunken walking. "20/20" visits Boulder, CO where the problem of drunk pedestrians has risen to the level where neighbors are up in arms and where one pioneering university student has declared herself a "designated walker." Remember: friends don't let friends walk drunk. Amy Robach reports.
Hangover Helpers: As long as there have been people drinking too much, there have been people looking for a hangover cure, and others offering to sell them. The latest is the Las Vegas Hangover Bus, developed by a Nevada doctor, which makes house calls to hotels along the strip, infusing hungover partiers with intravenous fluids and nutrients. "20/20" also takes a look at other hangover remedies to find out how well some of the latest offerings work. Ryan Owens reports.
Wide World of Drunks: In a recent study of per capita alcohol consumption, the US ranked number 57. So what is the rest of the world up to? Nick Watt takes us around the globe, from the sangria-soaked St. Fermin festival in Spain to the vodka-chugging streets of Moscow to the corporate drinking culture of the "Nomikai" in Japan.
David Sloan is executive producer of "20/20". Preview links: http://abcnews.go.com/2020
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