As people gather once again to celebrate the holidays, AAA is encouraging everyone to celebrate responsibly and drive sober as they journey back home and visit friends and family.

“Impaired driving is a major traffic safety concern, especially during the holidays,” said Kimberly Schwind, senior manager in Public Affairs at AAA Ohio Auto Club. “As we get back together with friends and family this holiday season, we need to make sure we are making decisions that help our loved ones make it to their destinations safely.”

Drinking and Driving has Consequences

Most drivers do acknowledge the dangers of drunk driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index, nearly all drivers (94.5%) said driving after drinking is very or extremely dangerous. (However, 6% admitted having done so in the last 30 days.) Despite this understanding, alcohol-related crashes and fatalities remain an issue on Ohio’s roads.

According to Ohio State Highway Patrol Statistics, 384 people died in alcohol-related crashes on Ohio’s roads last year. Overall, alcohol contributed to a third (33.3%) of Ohio’s 2020 fatal crashes.

Nationally, drunk driving crashes kill an average of 30 people every day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s one person every 50 minutes. The consequences aren’t hidden, and they’re dire for those involved.

Preventing Drunk Driving

If you have plans to attend a family gathering or host a party with friends, we have assembled a few easy suggestions that will allow you to enjoy the occasion safely.

• • Plan ahead: If you know you’re going to be drinking, find an alternative ride home, such as a friend, cab or ride-sharing service like Uber. Alternatively, plan to stay overnight at the location where you’re going to be drinking.
  • Enjoy mocktails: If you do have to drive and none of the options above work for you, celebrate with some fun non-alcoholic mocktails instead of an alcoholic beverage.

If you’re hosting a party, host responsibly and never let guests drive drunk. Ohio’s host liability law holds those who serve alcohol liable for injury or death that occurs if their impaired guests cause a crash.

DIY Mocktail Recipes

To help Ohioans celebrate safely, AAA Ohio Auto Club has pulled together some of our favorite mocktail recipes to enjoy during your holiday festivities. This includes the Ruby Sparkle Punch, Cranberry Cider and Mock Champagne. These recipes and more are available at AAA.com/Mocktails.

So enjoy some delicious mocktail recipes at a family get-together or your next holiday party with friends. Either way, AAA urges Ohioans to stay safe this holiday season and drive sober.

And remember, driving sober is an individual’s responsibility. AAA Ohio Auto Club will NOT pick up drivers who have had too much to drink. Instead, AAA urges drivers to plan ahead to ensure they get home safely.

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NOTE: Please refer to the latest CDC recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.