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As this is the holiday season, it's time to review tips on how to be a responsible host and party-goer.  In the United States, about 1,200 people die each holiday as a result of being involved in drunk driving crashes.  Thousands of others are injured, many for life. In an instant, lives may change. According to the CDC, there is one death every 48 minutes in the United States because of alcohol-related crashes.  Many of these crashes are caused by those leaving holiday parties and gatherings after having consumed too much alcohol.

Randall Spivey, Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. reminds, "As hosts, we have the responsibility of being sure our guests not only have a good time but also are around to share in future festivities.  To do this we need to be responsible. I've seen first-hand the results of what happens when people drink and drive.  It's tragic.  That's why I'd like to share with you some tips on How to be a Responsible Host and Party-goer."

The Substance Abuse Action Council of Central CT offers these tips:

TIPS FOR HOSTS AND HOSTESSES:    

• One out of three adults prefers a non-alcoholic beverage. Ensure that the choice is available at any holiday party. When alcohol is served, provide nutritious and appealing food to slow its effects.

• Serve alcoholic drinks only upon request and offer non-alcoholic alternatives such as sparkling water, fancy juice drinks, and soft drinks.

• Avoid making alcohol the main focus of the social event. Entertain guests with music, games, dancing, food, and lively conversation.

• Require bartenders to measure the correct amount of liquor in drinks (no doubles) and instruct them to refuse service to anyone under 21 and individuals who appear to be impaired.

• Stop serving drinks at least one hour before the end of the event. Serve non-alcoholic beverages and desserts at that time.

• Provide drinkers with alternatives to driving. Offer your place to spend the night, drive the friend home yourself (if you have not been drinking), call a taxi, or ask someone who was not drinking to drive your friend home.

• Don't let a drinker drive. If the drinker insists on driving, take the keys, ask for help from other guests, or temporarily disable the car. If necessary, say you will call the police (and do so) if all else fails.

MYTHS AND FACTS FOR PARTY-GOERS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND SAFE DRIVING

Myth: "Alcohol is a stimulant."
Fact: Alcohol is a depressant. It acts on the central nervous system like an anesthetic to lower or depress the activity of the brain.

Myth: "Drinking coffee sobers me up."
Fact: Coffee cannot rid your system of alcohol. It just makes for a nervous, wide-awake drunk. Only time reverses impairment.

Myth: "I always stay away from the hard stuff."
Fact: Alcohol is alcohol. Beer has the same effect as straight scotch. One 12-ounce beer has as much alcohol as a 1.5 ounce shot of whiskey or a 5-ounce glass of wine.

Myth: "I'm bigger so I can handle my liquor better."
Fact: Size is only one factor in how much you can drink. Metabolism, amount of rest, and food intake all play a part in how you handle liquor. Impairment in motor reflexes and judgment can begin with the first drink.

Myth: "Once I roll down the car window, I'm okay."
Fact: No amount of fresh, cold air can reverse impairment. You gain nothing by rolling down a window or turning on the air conditioner.

Myth: "I'll just drive slower."
Fact: Many people do, believing they actually compensate for being impaired by creeping along at 22 m.p.h. This can be very dangerous. Others race along at 75 m.p.h. The truth is, impaired drivers are unsafe at any speed.

Myth: "All I have to do is splash cold water on my face."

      Fact: Splash all you like. You can even take a cold shower. It may make you cleaner, but it won't sober you up or make you a safe driver.

Myth: "A drink or two makes me a better driver."
Fact: Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your judgment and put you and others on the road at risk of death or disabling injury.

LEGAL LIMIT - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

 The legal limit in all 50 states for drunk driving is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08.  A woman weighing 120 pounds can reach this level after only two drinks; a man weighing 180 pounds can reach the level of .08 after four drinks.  At .08 BAC level one beer, a five-ounce glass of wine or one shot of liquor all contain the same amount of alcohol.  Drivers with .08 BAC levels are 11 times more likely to have a single-vehicle crash than non-drinking drivers.  However, 25 years of research has shown that some impairment for both males and females starts after just one alcoholic beverage. The best limit is .00.

Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by less than 2 percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 1,500 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239. 337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.