Don’t Drink and Fly

Congratulations!

You’ve made it to December, the most wonderful time of the year! Whether you’re wrapping up exams or wrapping up presents for your fam and friends, December can be both festive and hectic and we already know you cannot wait to get home or get to those holiday parties, but slow down for second.

We know you’re eager to get on the road, and heading from one party to another can be exciting, but did you know that during the holiday season drunk-driving is responsible for over 40% of traffic-related incidents?

If you’re keeping the rum in your eggnog, make sure you’re keeping your keys out of your pocket, and buckle up for some of DrinkSmart’s favourite ways to stay safe and keep the holidays merry – not messy!

1. #PLAN, #POUR, #COUNT, #TIME, #BALANCE

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already familiar with DrinkSmart’s 5-Pillar Strategy but let’s run through it again.

#PLAN your drink count and your ride home before your night begins. Don’t let anyone influence how much alcohol you consume and tell a friend where you’re going.

#POUR and measure your own drinks (or bring them) where possible. Knowing how much you are consuming can help you stick to your plan.

#COUNT the number of drinks you are consuming (yes, shots count). Just because you don’t feel it right away, doesn’t mean the alcohol is not in your body.

#TIME your drinks, limiting yourself to one drink per hour. This gives your body the ability to process the alcohol.

#BALANCE your drinks by alternating with water (or a non-alcoholic drink) and eating before and while you drink.

Why are we telling you this? Because every good night starts, and ends, with a good plan. If you go into the night with these strategies in mind, you’ll be able to have a fun time without going overboard. That means being able to use your best judgment when it comes to getting you and your friend’s home safely.

2. Who’s Playing Santa?

While you’re still in the #PLAN stage, plan with your crew who will fly the sleigh. Your designated driver (DD) should be someone who plans to stick to the milk and cookies and will be staying sober for the evening.

Make sure your friend (or yourself!) has a good track record and is someone who you can trust to sleigh responsibly and not be sneaking a drink because “it’s the holidays”.

Remember, even if you aren’t “feeling it” driving while buzzed can still cause problems such as delayed reaction time, poor judgement, and distracted driving. It’s also highkey illegal, so if you plan on drinking keep your keys at home so you can keep Christmas red, white, and green and not red, white, and blue!

3. Use Your “Phone-a-Friend” Lifeline.

No DD? Time to use your “Phone-a-Friend” lifeline. No but for real, if your DD decided to drink, do not get into the car with them. If possible, put their keys somewhere safe and call an Uber, cab, or someone you trust who is sober, to pick you guys up. If your friend is insistent on driving, try and calmly reason with them, if you cannot deescalate the situation, your friend becomes aggressive, or they proceed to drive anyways, call the police. They may be upset in the moment but will be grateful in the morning!

Drove to the party but ended up having a drink? Don’t feel bad but also don’t touch your keys. Regardless of how you’re feeling or how “careful” you think you’ll drive, just because you’re going slow does not mean you’re staying safe. Call someone to get you and head back to pick up your car in the morning. Never let someone else drive you home who’s been drinking, even if they had less than you, one drink is still risky and like totally not worth it.

4. Don’t be Afraid to Say “No.”

Let’s be honest, if you’re staying sober there may be some temptation to have a drink, especially when everyone around you is feelin’ merry and bright. Normalize having fun without the booze and don’t be afraid to say no, especially if you’re the designated driver!

Stick to mocktails and eggnog and don’t let anyone pressure you into changing your mind. We all love a white Christmas, but a little white lie if needed never hurt anybody! If you’re feeling pressured and it’s hard to say no, you can always say you’ve already drank and don’t want to overdo it, have an exam you need to study for, or say you may be driving (even if you aren’t).

Need to be extra sneaky? Pour your non-alcoholic drink into a red solo cup and carry on. Chances are everyone is more worried about what’s in their cup than what’s in yours!

5. Crash on the Couch…Not your Car!

Feeling exhausted and already exhausted all your options?

Our last tip is to ask the host if you can crash on their couch. It may not be as comfy as your bed at home, but tossing and turning is always better than crashing and swerving.

Stay safe, stay smart, and stay the night.

So, to wrap this up,

and as you get ready to switch gears into the holiday season, remember that the best gift you can give yourself and your crew is a safe ride home.

Keep these tips in your back pocket, sleigh responsibly, and make sure every celebration ends with everyone arriving home merry, bright, and in one piece.

Happy Holidays!