Drinking

I am definitely not much of a drinker and I am extremely cautious if I even consider going 'out'. I think planning ahead is important for your safety and the safety of everyone around you. I found this article and thought I would share.

Guarding Against Impaired Driving

“Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver,” reports the Centers for Disease Control.

In addition to the obvious impairment that alcohol can bring about, both legal and illegal drugs cause impaired driving from drowsiness and slowed reaction times while distractions such as texting, using a cell phone, or even adjusting a CD player can impair a driver’s abilities at any time. As the holiday season approaches, along with wintry weather conditions in many parts of the country, avoiding impaired driving is essential.

Take responsibility for yourself at social events:

Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Limit consumption to no more than one alcoholic beverage per hour.
Do not participate in drinking games or contests.
Eat enough food to slow the absorption of alcohol.
Have a designated driver on call who you know will not consume alcohol.
Stop drinking alcohol at least an hour before leaving a party.
As a host, protect yourself and others:

Serve plenty of food during parties.
Do not push alcoholic drinks and offer plenty of non-alcoholic ones as well.
Watch your own consumption so that you can observe your guests carefully.
Recognize that outward signs of impairment may not be evident; an individual’s judgment and reaction time can be affected by just one drink.
Stop serving alcohol and provide coffee, tea and/or hot cocoa for the last hour.
Take the car keys and call a taxi, arrange a ride with a sober driver, or offer your spare room or couch to a guest who is too inebriated to drive.
Save lives by calling 911 if you see drivers who are:

Weaving, swerving or drifting from lane to lane
Almost striking an object or vehicle
Driving excessively quickly or slowly
Braking erratically or stopping without cause
Driving after dark without headlights
Driving on the wrong side of the road
If we can all be responsible for ourselves and do our best to stop impaired drivers from hurting themselves and others, traveling on our roads should become safer.

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