Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day safely, never drink and drive

submitted by Michigan Liquor Control Commission

Whether your favorite drink is Irish whisky or green beer, two things that should never mix on St. Patrick’s Day are drinking and driving. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) urges St. Paddy’s Day revelers to plan ahead to keep themselves and those around them safe when celebrating, including the weekend leading up to St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, March 17, when celebrations may kick off early.

“Whether celebrating at a local pub or gathering at a friend’s home for St. Patrick’s Day, it is imperative to consume alcohol responsibly,” said Kristin Beltzer, MLCC Chair. “Drinking and driving can ruin much more than a fun time with friends. Even one drink can impair your ability to drive. Before you put your keys in the ignition, remember buzzed driving is drunk driving.”

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays on the roads due to drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 38% of traffic deaths on St. Patrick’s Day involved drunk driving. From 2018 to 2022, 290 alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurred on St. Patrick’s Day.

Drivers should be safe during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Alcohol impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.

Reminders for safe St. Patrick’s Day celebrations:

• Never binge drink, generally defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in a two-hour period.
• Have a pre-set limit. Remember that no one can force you to have “just one more” — or even one drink.
• Have a plan before you leave the house on how you’ll get home safely. Designate a sober driver to drive you home or arrange for rideshare services by booking an Uber or Lyft through a phone app.
• Never let a friend drive drunk. Take the keys away and arrange a safe way for them to get home.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911 to reach law enforcement.

The MLCC also reminds liquor licensees of their responsibilities to keep customers safe — to check IDs and serve only those of legal drinking age and to not overserve patrons. Licensees shall maintain order and know their establishment’s capacity limits to avoid overcrowding that can lead to obstructed exits, which are safety and fire hazards.

The mission of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) is to make alcoholic beverages available for consumption while protecting the consumer and the general public through regulation of those involved in the sale and distribution of these alcohol beverage products.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.