This St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Rethinking Alcohol and Other Drugs (RAD) is partnering up with local businesses in the San Gabriel Valley on a Public Awareness Campaign to help prevent drunk driving and remind bar and restaurant patrons to plan ahead for a safe St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday is meant to celebrate Saint Patrick and the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. However, reports show that popular “bar holidays” like St. Patrick’s Day are among the most dangerous days for drunk and drugged driving deaths. In fact, drunk driving deaths and underage drinking increase around popular celebrations. Alcohol remains the second leading cause of death and disability in Los Angeles County, and is associated with over 54 acute and chronic health conditions. It is illegal in every state to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of (BAC) of .08 or higher, yet:
The Unlucky Facts:
- Over 1 in 3 fatal collisions involve alcohol.
- 1 person is killed in a drunk-driving crash every 52 minutes.
- Almost 1 in 10 (8%) of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes have one or more previous DUI convictions.
- Excessive alcohol consumption costs LA County $10.8 Billion every year (Roughly $1,000 per resident.)
- After alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs are most commonly linked to drugged driving crashes.
RAD Reminds to you to Plan Ahead for a Safe St. Patrick’s Day with 5 simple tips:
1. TALK about the risks of excessive alcohol use with your teens, friends and family.
2. ONLY DRIVE SOBER Designate a non-drinking driver before any celebration, and encourage others to do the same.
3. TAKE THE KEYS Never let friends drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
4. BE A RESPONSIBLE HOST Serve water and offer non-alcoholic beverages.
5. NEVER PROVIDE ALCOHOL TO MINORS Keep alcohol away from minors and supervise.
Participating Businesses: THANK YOU!
| Pasadena
South Pasadena
Alhambra
Pomona
Covina
Sources:
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