"Holidays tend be dangerous times on the roads. It’s important to celebrate, have fun and stay safe. Designating sober drivers and finding safe alternative transportation are great ways to ensure that your holidays end as safely as they begin."
Laura Dean-Mooney
MADD National President
From champagne and wine to eggnog and beer – green or otherwise – alcohol and holidays are a traditional combination for many Americans. MADD’s Designate a Driver initiative reminds everyone to designate a non-drinking driver, before the festivities have begun.
The Designate a Driver initiative focuses on what are, traditionally, the four deadliest holidays of the year:
- Labor Day
- Holiday Season (November 24 - January 2)
- St. Patrick's Day
- Memorial Day
But designating a sober driver should be throughout the year—not just for holidays. We want to make sure every adult has a safe ride home after drinking alcohol at an event or celebration.
What is a Designated Driver?
Being the designated driver doesn’t mean the “least drunk” person drives home. It means that, before celebrations begin, an adult is designated to provide safe and sober transportation home and only drinks non-alcoholic beverages.
Why Be a Designated Driver?
Asthedesignated driver, you are the "life insurance" for your group. You will also help your family and friends avoid embarrassment, keep their licenses, avoid fines and jail time if they were to get a DUI. You will also be making the streets safer for everyone.
Planning a Party with Polish
There’s a reason it’s called throwing a party—a host has to be ready to catch some curve balls and juggle the unexpected when it comes to staging an event that’s fun, entertaining and safe for everyone. Responsible hosts know that part of showing guests a great time is making sure they get home safely. Dealing with safe driving is an important hosting duty so we’ve compiled some quick tips to help you throw a memorably successful party without tossing caution to the wind.
- Plan activities like party games, door prize drawings or amateur fortune-telling. Planned activities engage people, make for less active consumption of alcohol and ensure that your friends remember the great event long after the last piece of confetti has settled.
- As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver.
- Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
- Avoid too many salty snacks, which tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
- Offer non-alcoholic beverages or Mocktails for designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol.
- If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base, like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base.
- Be prepared by having the number of a taxi service on hand for those who need a ride. Also, be ready with some clean linens so you can turn your sofa into a hotel for guests who need to sleep it off.
During Your Party
- Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age, and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
- Don’t let guests mix their own drinks. Choosing a reliable “bartender” will help you keep track of the size and number of drinks that guests consume.
- If a guest appears to be drinking a bit much, offer to freshen his or her drink with a virgin version.
- Do not push drinks! Drinking at a party is not mandatory for having a good time.
- Have fun, but not too much fun. To be a good host, you should stay within your limits in order to make sure your guests stay within theirs.
- Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends and serve a great dessert treat with coffee. Remember, only time sobers someone who has been drinking.
- If, despite your efforts, some of your guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi, or invite them to stay over.
What Every Host Needs to Know
- Don’t rely on coffee to sober up your guests. Only time can make someone sober.
- Beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor. A 12-ounce can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler and an ounce and a half of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol.
- Don’t rely on someone’s physical appearance to determine if he or she has had too much to drink.
- Mixers won’t help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person’s system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more.
Office Parties
- Arrange for discounted or complimentary rooms when a party is held at a hotel so employees won’t drive home impaired.
- Hire a shuttle or limousine service to provide transportation for those that have been drinking. Promote the designated driver concept in party invitations.
- Do not push drinks!
- If you provide an open bar, be sure the bartender has had server training to prevent over-serving and serving guests under the legal drinking age.
- Hold a contest for employees to create non-alcoholic drink recipes.
If a Guest Drinks Too Much
Approaching a guest who has had too much to drink can feel a little awkward. And, the first time is the hardest. But it is certainly easier to deal with than your quest becoming a statistic.
Approach your guest and explain that your actions could save his or her life and that you cannot let them drive home because you care. Offer to let the guest spend the night, call a cab, or ask a sober guest to drive the intoxicated person home.
If you see a guest who is starting to consume too much alcohol, here are some tips you can use:
- Engage him/her in a conversation to slow down the drinking.
- Offer high protein food.
- Offer to make the next drink and use less alcohol.
- Don’t be afraid to insist that they sit out the sipping for awhile or switch to beverages of the non-alcoholic variety– sparkling cider makes a great substitute for a glass of champagne.
How to Spot a Drunk Driver
Alcohol affects the central nervous system, impairing vision, coordination, judgment and reaction time. When someone is driving impaired, they may overcompensate for these impaired functions in an effort to make their driving appear normal. In fact, some drunk drivers may actually appear as if they are just overly cautious drivers.
Here are signs that a driver may be impaired:
- Turning with a wide radius
- Driving below the speed limit
- Straddling the center of the road or lane marker
- Drifting or moving in a straight line at a slight angle to the roadway
- Driving with headlights off at night
- Erratic braking or stopping without cause
- Slow response to traffic signals (sudden stop, delayed start)
- Nearly striking an object, curb, etc.
- Weaving or zigzagging across the road
- Driving on the wrong side of the road or completely off the roadway
- Tailgating
- Appearing to be drunk (eye fixation, face close to windshield)
- Swerving or abruptly turning away from a generally straight course
- Turning abruptly or illegally
- Signaling that is inconsistent with driving actions
If You Spot a Drunk Driver.
If you spot a drunk driver, create a safe distance between you and the other driver. Write down a license plate number, a description of the vehicle and the direction it’s traveling. Then call 911 to report the driver. If you’re calling from your cell phone, make sure to pull over safely before making the call.
It’s also important to know what not to do if you spot a drunk driver. Don’t:
- Try to stop the vehicle
- Disregard traffic signals or laws in an attempt to keep the driver in view
- Follow the drunk driver too closely in case of sudden stops
- Try to detain the drunk driver if the vehicle stops
- Act in the capacity of any police, fire or medical person unless you’re properly trained and authorized to perform that function
- Assist any law enforcement officer who’s apprehending a drunk driver
Get Involved
The Designate a Driver initiative asks motorists to commit a labor of love by always designating a sober driver for celebrations. Getting involved is easy, and anyone can participate. If your celebrations include alcohol, simply plan ahead by designating a sober driver.