Interesting replies.......
Indeed.
My first thoughts on hearing about this were along the lines of "how easily is he going to be treated, compared with the 'average' person?"
Unfortunately, the Daily News article doesn't address such an obvious question, and so a moment of online activity brought me here:
which essentially 'answers' my question with "it all depends". Not a helpful site, and several others I checked were not much better.
My interest level in this is quite limited, as I'm not a Californian and have scrupulously avoided driving the stoatmobile under even the very most minor levels of attitudinal adjustment, so my interest is an academic one only.
I have the impression that here in Washington the laws are quite strict (although probably not nearly strict enough) and with mandatory minimum penalties.....but it's something that I've never looked into in depth because I never, ever, mix drinking and driving.
A face full of windshield glass doesn't enhance the complexion.
It looks like Mr. Sutherland may be looking at 'slightly' more bother as a result of this than the mandatorily-edited FR version of the article allowed. Here at the very end:
The actor must also complete an 18-month alcohol-education program and get therapy.
It sounds only slightly worse than the required 'rehab' that celebrities undergo after they slip and call a co-worker a f*g in public.