The holiday season is here, which means that there are an abundance of specialty cocktails and winter edition beers to experiment with. While the holiday alcoholic drinks can be fun to consume, the winter season is not an excuse for over-drinking and driving. In fact, local police often reinforce their patrols during the holiday season to make sure that men and women are abiding by the rules. Nothing is more devastating than a Christmas spent in the hospital with a child injured in a DUI accident or a holiday spent planning a funeral for someone who is lost in a crash.
Studies show that 38 percent of all Christmas-time car accident fatalities are the result of an alcohol-related crash. About 54 percent of all fatal traffic collisions on New Years are due to a drunk driver. The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that this is a 12 percent increase from the rest of the month of December. People forget that the effects of alcohol act quickly and a person may be intoxicated faster than he or she expected to be. As well, the effects of alcohol can last for hours, so waiting to “walk off” a dizzy spell may not be beneficial. Many holiday partygoers try to weaken the effects of alcohol with coffee, but studies show that the caffeine in this beverage may actually make things worse.
Every year, about 45 men and women die on Christmas Day because of a drunk driver, and about 55 people die on New Year’s because of the same situation. This saddening statistic shows that it is much wiser to avoid drinking than to take a risk. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration plans to implement an intensive national crackdown during the holidays and is spending approximately $7 million to create television and radio advertisements warning people to avoid driving while drunk.
According to a Boston Blog, eggnog is not the signature holiday drink any longer. Instead, men and women are opting for holiday cocktails with eggnog or peppermint thrown in to give them a festive flavor. Yet all the holiday cocktails can end up meriting a lot more DUI arrests than the average. According to Foster’s, drivers need to take responsibility around this time of the year. Every party must have a designated driver. In New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, police agencies are already planning to add extra patrols over the weekend to catch those driving home intoxicated after the holiday parties. With only 11 days until Christmas, this weekend will be filled with work Christmas parties, social group get-togethers, and nights out to celebrate.
According to a study from the University of Washington, drivers should not get in their vehicle even if they are merely “tipsy.” In some states, a driver does not need to register a 0.08% BAC in order to be arrested for drunk driving. Many times the police will say that if a driver is “sufficiently intoxicated” this is enough to merit an arrest. The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute admits that alcohol is a major issue during the holidays. Social drinks and recovering alcoholics are often tempted to compromise when they are at a party, just as dieters are tempted to throw away their calorie count when they see all the delicious food.
If you are planning to drink at parties this weekend or throughout the holiday season, here are some guidelines that you may want to implement. First of all, you should count your drinks. In many cases, DUI offenders lose track of how much alcohol they have had. With every drink, it is easier to take an additional one. As a general principle, drinks should also keep a standard serving size in mind. In some cocktails the amount of hard liquor may be astronomical. Make sure that you understand just how much alcohol you are consuming in your beverages.
Another way to regulate alcohol consumption at Christmas parties is to choose a one drink per hour approach. According to the University of Washington, our bodies can only process about one drink per hour. When drinks are regulated this way and the consumer also drinks water in between beverages, it may cause you to appear more sober. Drinkers should always make sure to snack plenty in order to neutralize the effects of the alcohol within their bodies. When you are the designated driver, it’s best to abstain from having any alcohol at all. If you are embarrassed that you are not drinking like all of your friends, then choose beverages that look like alcohol. These will help you to avoid raising questions.
For example, you can have a Red Bull in a clear cup to imitate beer or opt for a ginger-ale. As well, you may want to sip on a sparkling cider instead of champagne. With high end, delicious, classy drinks there for you; you won’t need to worry about looking silly while you stay safe. As well, you may want to get support. Ask another designated partner at your holiday party to be your accountability buddy. This will help you to avoid the temptation. If you are arrested for drinking and driving this holiday season, you are going to want assistance in your case. With the right lawyer on your side, you will have the ability to get the representation you need to settle your case quickly. Explore this directory to find an attorney near you today!