In the wake of the tragic death of Nick Adenhart America must end the nonchalant approach it takes to drunk-driving offenses. Mr. Adenhart, a 22-year-old right-hander for the Los Angeles Angels, and two others were killed early Thursday morning. According to police Andrew Thomas Gallo ran a red light and slammed into the car the four were riding in. The impact flung their car into a post.

The driver of the car that caused the accident was Andrew Thomas Gallo. Gallo was driving with a blood alcohol level that was significantly higher than the legal limit. Additionally, Gallo was behind the wheel even though his license was suspended because of previous convictions for driving under the influence.

Mr. Adenhart’s life is not more important than the lives of anyone else who dies as a result of drunk drivers. But I am hoping that the senseless act of recklessness and irresponsibility that took his life will force Americans to reconsider the way we tolerate drunk driving.

In my opinion, America must stop waiting to seriously punish drunk drivers until they hurt or kill someone. We must increase the mandatory sentences for people found guilty of drunk driving for the first time to at least 15 years—regardless of age or prior criminal record. People must be forced to either think about the consequences of their irresponsible decisions or stopped from being irresponsible again.

If Americans do not like that approach it might be time to install breathalyzers in every car sold in America. I know many will say that installing breathalyzers in every car will violate their civil liberties, a charge I am sympathetic to, but the truth is that too many Americans can not handle alcohol responsibly. So, society must take strong steps to protect the rest of us from them.

Lastly, America should consider phasing out the drinking age. One of the reasons Americans are far less responsible around alcohol than are Europeans is that Americans grow up viewing alcohol as a taboo. When many of them finally get old enough to legally drink they go crazy and become alcoholics. If kids could try alcohol with their parents or in socially acceptable situations drinking alcohol would become more a regular part of life—and less something to abuse on occasion.