Stay Safe for the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for gathering with friends and family to celebrate.  This can be a fun experience for everyone, when the right precautions are taken to ensure every car has a sober driver.  Every year families are impacted by drunk drivers in situations that are avoidable and unnecessary.  Drunk driving accidents can create devastating effects to all parties involved.

Intoxicated drivers, alcohol establishments, and party hosts can all be held liable for a victim’s injury or death when an accident occurs because a driver has been drinking alcohol.  Dram shop laws exist to regulate this type of behavior.  There are currently 43 states and the District of Columbia that have some type of dram shop law in effect.  North Carolina is one of those states.

Social host liability can also apply when a party host serves a person alcohol that they know (or should know) is intoxicated and will be driving afterwards.

Here are some tips from MADD to help you throw a fun and SAFE party:

-Confirm that guests that plan to drink at your party have a safe way to return home, this can be done as guests RSVP.

-Have activities at your party that do not only involve alcohol.

-Do not push alcoholic drinks!

-Provide a selection of non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of food for guests.

-Do NOT serve alcohol to someone under 21 years of age.

-Make a fun game out of a home breathalyzer test, like one of these available on amazon.

-Have space prepared for overnight guests and offer everyone that is intoxicated a place to stay for the night.  But remember, just because someone stays the night does not mean they will be sober the next day!

-Take advantage of public transportation, taxis, and Uber options available.  Through Uber events, you can set up pick up and return trips for your guests.  Uber will also donate $10 to MADD for every ride you purchase through their UberEVENTS+MADD page, you can read more information about this program HERE.