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| Top 10 Things to Know About Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol | |
 | Alcohol disrupts the brain’s communication networks and has the potential to alter both the structure and functioning of the brain. It impairs the brain’s ability to effectively oversee functions like balance, memory, speech, and judgment, thereby increasing the risk of accidents and unfavorable consequences.8 |
 | In 2021 there were 13,384 fatalities in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, accounting for 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year.11 |
 | Fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes increased by 14% (11,718 to 13,384 fatalities) from 2020 to 2021 and increased by 31% (10,196 to 13,384 fatalities) from 2019 to 2021.11 |
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Consuming any quantity of alcohol before operating a vehicle heightens the risk of accidents for teenage drivers. Teenage drivers face a significantly greater crash risk at the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC) compared to older drivers, even when their BAC levels are below the legal limit established for individuals aged 21 and above.2 |
 | In 2019, approximately 5% of U.S. high school students who operated a vehicle had done so after consuming alcohol within the preceding 30 days. Additionally, around 17% of all high school students had been passengers in a vehicle driven by someone who had consumed alcohol in the prior 30 days.4 |
 | 229 children ages 0–14 years were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver in 2020. This was 21% of traffic-related deaths among children ages 0–14 years.1 |
 | It is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) higher than 0.08 grams, however, in 2021, there were 2,266 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07 g/dL.6 |
 | A first time drunk driving charge can set you back $10,000 on average between bail, court fees, towing and impound fees, fines, DWI classes, license reinstatement fees and legal fees; additionally, the average increase for an insurance premium after a DWI is 19%.5 |
 | In 2018, drunk-driving-related fatalities that occurred in the week between Christmas and New Years accounted for nearly 2.5% of the annual number of people killed nationwide in drunk-driving crashes.12 |
 | During the New Year’s and Christmas periods in 2020, there were 209 drunk-driving-related fatalities throughout the nation.10 |
Did you know that alcohol related accidents have gone up in the last few years?
That is why we are asking restaurant & bars to join us in helping bring down this statistic by realizing that “It’s Worth The Wait.”
Sign up today to become certified in safety training to acquire in-depth knowledge of effective techniques and learn valuable tips and other motivational practices. This will help identify potential risks by minimalizing customers’ alcohol consumption, and convince patrons who have possibly over consumed alcohol to stay a while before they get behind the wheel of a car.
Additionally, when your business becomes certified you will save money on insurance and reduce potential risks and imposed penalties. And it’s free!
Show your community that your business cares then by telling your customers that “It’s Worth The Wait.”
Driving Under the Influence Information
The consumption of alcohol has a notable impact on brain function, leading to impaired cognition, reasoning, and motor coordination—all crucial skills for safe vehicle operation. With increased alcohol intake, its effect on the central nervous system intensifies6, reducing the capacity for sound decision-making. Driving while under the influence of alcohol puts the individual at risk and jeopardizes the well-being of the entire community. Beyond the potential for injury or loss of life, it can result in property damage, emotional distress, and strain on personal relationships.
Despite the nationwide legal drinking age of 21 in the United States, approximately 25% of fatal car accidents involve drivers who are underage and have consumed alcohol. In 2021, 27% of drivers aged 15 to 20 who lost their lives in car crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01g or higher6. When adolescents consume alcohol, their ability to control impulses and make sound decisions becomes impaired. Adolescents possess a heightened degree of brain plasticity, meaning their brains can adapt quickly to experiences, which often leads them to explore and take risks. This increased brain plasticity renders young minds more susceptible to the effects of alcohol.9
The week encompassing a national holiday stirs a mixture of emotions in people, from celebratory joy to sorrowful reflections. These periods of intensified emotions often result in elevated alcohol consumption compared to typical times12. The surge in alcohol consumption during the holidays, combined with the heightened traffic volume on the roads, has been shown to escalate the frequency of accidents involving drivers impaired by alcohol. Across the country in 2020, alcohol-related fatalities constituted 30% of all traffic fatalities on average, whereas during the Thanksgiving holiday period, this figure rose to 36%13.
Tips to Drink Responsibly
- Know Your Limit: Alcohol tolerance varies from person to person, so it is essential to know how much you can drink without becoming intoxicated.
- Create a Plan: Before having even one drink when you are out, decide how you will be returning home.
- Pace Yourself: Avoid consuming a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time (binge drinking). Sip slowly and give yourself time in between drinks.
- Eat Before & During Drinking: Eating food before drinking can slow the absorption of alcohol in your bloodstream and help reduce the effects of alcohol.
- Stay Hydrated: To help prevent dehydration and reduce the risk of intoxication, have a water or non-alcoholic beverage in between each alcoholic beverage.
- Avoid Drinking & Driving: Arrange for a designated driver, use public transportation, or take a rideshare service if you plan to drink away from home.
- Beware of Harmful Drug Interactions: Mixing alcohol with certain medications can exacerbate the alcohol’s effects.
TIPS Training Information
What is TIPS (Training for Intervention Purposes)?
The practice of Responsible Beverage Service plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community and raising awareness about the potential risks associated with alcohol consumption. It is imperative to provide comprehensive training to all staff employed in establishments serving alcohol, enabling them to serve and sell alcohol in a responsible manner. This approach aims to mitigate the adverse outcomes of alcohol misuse, encompassing issues like impaired driving, underage drinking, and excessive consumption.
Training for Intervention Purposes (TIPS) exceeds New York State standards for serving alcohol beverages by training personnel in:
- Legal responsibilities of selling alcohol
- Identifying fake IDs
- Recognizing intoxicated individuals and refuse service when necessary9
By undergoing this training, employees in the alcohol service industry will contribute to establishing a safer setting for both their customers and the entire community.
Set Up Your Free Training Today!
Contact lindycareslcc@gmail.com to get connected!
Tips Training Benefits for Businesses
- Reduces exposure to alcohol liability lawsuits
- Reduces penalties for alcohol violations
- Prevents property damage
- Lowers insurance premiums
- Improves customer service and professionalism
- Ensures alcohol training compliance with state regulations
- Creates a safer work environment7
Tips Training Benefits for the Community
- Prevents drunk driving
- Reduces over-service and intoxication
- Prevents sales to minors
- Promotes responsible alcohol consumption
- Provides a collaborative approach to preventing the misuse of alcohol7
For more information:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-and-adolescent-brain
https://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/penalties-alcohol-or-drug-related-violations
Important Phone Numbers:
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
SAMHSA’s 24/7 free National Helpline for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders
(English & Spanish): 1-800-662-4357
Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Traffic Safety Facts 2020 Data: Alcohol-Impaired Driving (Report No DOT HS 813 294). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis; April 2022.
- Voas RB, Torres P, Romano E, Lacey JH. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012;73(3):341–350. doi:10.15288/jsad.2012.73.341
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. Fatality Facts 2020: Teenagers. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute; May 2022.
- Yellman MA, Bryan L, Sauber-Schatz EK, Brener N. Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Suppl. 2020;69(Suppl-1):77–83. doi:10.15585/mmwr.su6901a9
- MainStreet, “The Extremely High Cost of a DUI,” May 31, 2013. Retrieved from Larkin Ingrassia, LLP (2023). How much does a DUI cost you in New York?. https://www.845law.com/2013/06/how-much-does-a-dui-cost-you-in-new-york-1/
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- United States Department of Transportation. Drunk Driving. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
- TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS). Why Choose TIPS. Retrieved from https://www.gettips.com/why-choose-tips
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol and the Brain: An Overview. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-and-brain-overview#:~:text=Alcohol%20interferes%20with%20the%20brain’s,injuries%20and%20other%20negative%20outcomes.
- The Prevention Council. TIPS Training. Retrieved from https://preventioncouncil.org/tips-training/#:~:text=Training%20for%20Intervention%20Purposes%20(TIPS)%20is%20a%20nationally%2Drecognized,and%20refuse%20sales%20when%20necessary.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/drunk-driving/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-1
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Marketing. 2023 Thanksgiving Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving – Fact Sheet and Talking Points. Retrieved from https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/sites/tsm.gov/files/2023-08/15934a-Thanksgiving-Buzzed-FactSheet_072523v2-tag.docx
- Artz & Sturm Law Group. 2023. Holiday Seasons Means More DUIs. Retrieved from https://duilawyerlosangeles.com/holiday-seasons-means-more-duis/
- National Safety Council. (2022). Holiday Traffic Fatality Estimate. Retrieved from https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/thanksgiving-day/