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Stop And Think Before You Drink

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By CHARITY ARTHUR

Published: December 31, 2007

The ball drops on 2007 today, and 2008 will be upon us.

New Year's Eve long has been considered a night of intense celebration. Lovers huddle together to kiss at the stroke of midnight. Fireworks explode in acknowledgement of another year, and the champagne and liquor flow freely, especially in Hillsborough County.

According to the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Hillsborough residents are enjoying their bubbly more than any other county in the state. Statistics show that 3,387 people were arrested in unincorporated Hillsborough County in 2006, and of those alcohol-related incidents, 1,333 resulted in traffic crashes, with 60 of them ending in death.

There is a misconception that DUI means "drunk driving," but that is not the case. Driving under the influence refers to impaired driving. At a blood-alcohol level of 0.08, a person's fine motor and decision-making skills begin to diminish. At a level of 0.10, the chances of being involved in a traffic crash increase by 7 1/2 times, and at a level of 0.15, the chances of a crash increase by 25 times.

Alcohol affects everyone differently based on body weight, composition and food intake. As a general rule, one to two drinks usually will push the average person into the 0.08 threshold. The amount of alcohol in 1 ounce of whiskey, 3 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer is the same. No amount of coffee, exercise or cold showers will eliminate alcohol from the body. The only cure for excess imbibing is time. It takes about an hour to cancel the effects of one drink.

There are ways to enjoy holiday festivities without becoming a statistic. Nibble on party foods that are higher in protein, which has been proved to slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Try to avoid high carbohydrate snacks. If you cannot avoid alcohol, try alternating alcoholic beverages with nonalcoholic ones.

About an hour before you plan to leave the party or club, switch to drinking coffee, water or juices. Although this will not eliminate the alcohol, it will give your body time to reduce your blood-alcohol level. If you can't find a designated driver, call AAA Tow-to-Go at 1-800-AAA-HELP. From Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, as well as select other times, if you are intoxicated and leaving a bar or nightclub, AAA will transport you and tow your car safely home for free.

Hillsborough DUI investigator Deputy James Glover reminds residents that if you think a taxi ride to and from an event is too expensive, consider that a DUI conviction could cost $7,000 to $10,000 in legal fees.

For tasty, nonalcoholic beverage ideas, check out Recipes for the Road 2007 on the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Web site at www.hcso.tampa.fl.us.

Charity Arthur is a community resource deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in the northwest area of Hillsborough County. If you have questions for her or suggestions for future topics for her monthly crime-prevention column, she can be reached at (813) 264-3990 or carthur@hcso.tampa.fl.us.

Keyword: Crime Fighter, for a discussion on this month's Crime Fighter column.

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