With the combination of holiday travel, family gatherings and the anxiety that this time of year can bring, drunk and drugged driving crashes increase dramatically in December. That’s why it’s so important to observe National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month: It could not only save your life, but the lives of others around you, too.
The most effective way to avoid drunk and drugged driving is by, of course, not being under the influence. Make a plan to celebrate this year’s festivities with healthy, traditional foods and drinks that are alcohol- and drug-free.
There are plenty of recipes and ideas available online for those who want to drink something seasonal while staying sober. Here are a few ideas to get you started!
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- Eggnog Hot Chocolate: Hot cocoa and eggnog alone stand out as classic winter drinks. Combine the two for a new favorite!
- Warm Tea-and-Cider Punch: This combo of tea steeped in hot cider is both comforting and reviving. For our purposes, skip the suggested bourbon. If you like, add a teaspoon of alcohol-free vanilla extract as a replacement.
- Cranberry Fizz: This is a simple one. All you need is ginger ale, cranapple juice, cinnamon sugar and a lemon or lime.
- Glow Water: If you’re looking to stay hydrated, this is a great option as it only takes a tall glass of seltzer, mint and lemon.
- Crimson Christmas Punch: With raspberry sherbet, ginger ale and three types of juice, you may mistake this sweet treat for dessert!
However, if you do end up having a drink or two during a holiday party and still have to get somewhere, the best idea is to not get behind the wheel. Drug and alcohol use impair judgement, delay reaction times and can result in major consequences. Most people would never imagine their holiday celebration could result in something so traumatic, but the risks are real. And it’s important to have a game plan.
There are plenty of options available to make sure you reach your destination safely after being at a holiday gathering — or any gathering for that matter. A good way to do this is by making a plan of where you will be and your ideal, final destination. To do this, identify a sober relative or friend beforehand who will be your first call when you’re ready to leave your location. Or — have your local ridesharing app downloaded and readily available for use!
Another option is to spend the night at your host’s home. We only recommend this if you know the host and are comfortable with them. If this is the case, don’t worry about being an imposition! Family or friends would rather know you’ll be safe and sound under their roof as opposed to on the road.
Using any—or all—of these ideas will go a long way towards keeping you and your loved ones safe in not only December, but the months to come as well.
Have a happy and safe holiday season!
