This holiday season, it’s very likely that you and your friends and family are interested in going out and having a good time — as you should. For adults, this might also include consumption of alcoholic beverages. Let me be the first to say that there is nothing wrong with enjoying yourself. You work hard, so you deserve to take time out with family members and friends and enjoy the fruits of your labor. The key is to make sure that you are doing so responsibly.
Safety is the Focus
As a DUI lawyer, I represent people every day who have put their own lives and the lives of others at risk by getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. Because of this, you may have gotten the misconception that I see this as a lucrative activity to benefit from. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If our firm had its way, we would never have to focus on these types of cases, but would instead focus on the countless other traffic offenses for which people need representation. So to get the most out of your holiday fun, while making sure that you are protecting yourself and others, there are a number of things that you can do.
Find a Way to Get Home
For one, it’s important to have a designated driver. This can be someone in your group, it could be you or it could be a friend or relative who didn’t go out but is willing to pick you up when the night is over. The designated driver should be a person who doesn’t drink at all. Some people tend to allow their designated driver to drink a little bit, but make sure they are the person drinking the least out of the group. This is a dangerous practice, because a person may not drink much or seriously feel the affects, but could still be over the legal limit if pulled over.
If you don’t have a designated driver, be sure to set aside some money for cab fare. Before you go out, you should pull a few numbers for taxi companies that operate in the area. In this day and age, technology can help with this, because you can hail a cab via text message and there are a number of apps that allow you to book a taxi to come pick you up. Most taxis will also accept credit and debit cards, which gives you even more options and less of an excuse not to use a taxi.
Stay off the Roads Whenever Possible
During the holidays, you should also be mindful that plenty of other people are drinking, and while you may be acting responsibly, many others won’t. You should limit your travel and stay somewhere safe for as long as possible. Not all circumstances are preventable, but you should take every measure possible to make sure that you make it home safe and sound. These tips apply to any night you go out drinking and should be followed so that you can be alive to enjoy the holidays and all of life’s special moments.
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