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Dear Party Host,
New Years Eve should be a time of fun and celebration
and, particularly this year, one of reflection but,
all too often, this special time becomes marred with
tragedy when someone chooses to get behind the wheel
after drinking. In the tragic wake of the recent terrorist
attacks, it is extremely devastating to hear that America
has lost thousands more innocent victims in yet another
battle: the war against drunk driving. New statistics
recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration show that, last year, the nation experienced
the largest percentage increase in alcohol-related traffic
deaths on record......a reversal of 20 years of progress.
While
the nation has made great headway in reducing alcohol-related
traffic fatalities by more than 40 percent since 1980,
in the last few years we have seen a plateau in this
progress and now it appears the nation is losing ground
in this battle to save lives and prevent injuries. In
the year 2000, an overwhelming 16,653 people were killed
in crashes involving alcohol, representing 40 percent
of the 41,821 people killed in all traffic crashes.
Each of these deaths was 100 percent preventable.
America
has suffered terribly from the senseless deaths of thousands
of people in the September 11th terrorist attacks. It
makes this news about an increase in drunk driving deaths
an even heavier burden to bear. We must do all we can
to prevent these senseless tragedies. Members of our
local END-DWI and the national organization, MAAD, know
first-hand the pain of a broken heart. Particularly
on the New Years weekend, these moms are calling on
the nation to do everything possible to prevent drunk
driving. They point out the responsibility which must
be borne particularly by New Years Eve hosts to pay
a role in reducing the all too usual carnage caused
by drunk celebrants on the road home from their parties.
Some
tips for you: Hosts should have plenty of nonalcoholic
drinks available. Use a light hand when pouring drinks.
Don't let drinking be the focal point of the party.
Remember that bubbly or carbonated drinks like Champagne
increase the impact of alcohol. Serve food.
Some
tips for your guests: Holiday revelers can protect themselves
from overindulging. Alcohol drinkers should: Avoid drinking
on an empty stomach. Eat fatty foods to absorb more
alcohol. Make their first drink nonalcoholic or low-alcohol.
Have only one drink per hour; try not to have more than
two drinks during the course of the evening. Sip your
drink, rather than emptying it each time it is filled.
If you're going to drive, don't drink at all. Don't
let other drinkers drive.
Bottom
line: Like it or not, in most states, a party host can
be held legally responsible for damages, injuries or
deaths which may be result from an accident caused by
a guest who has left your party under the influence
of alcohol (or, by the way, any other drug!!).
BOTTOM
LINE: Be a responsible party host...the most important
is to make sure that each of your guests will be driven
home by a designated non-drinking driver.
TO
ALL: May the coming year be one of good health, happiness,
and one that will bring us peace. God bless you...and
God bless our nation and its people.
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