Article made possible by site supporter Jane B.
Maybe it’s a family reunion, a holiday dinner, or perhaps a graduation ceremony. There are many reasons various clans of the same tribe come together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.
More times than not, alcohol and maybe even some marijuana smoking occurs at these family functions. Less likely is the inclusion of some kind of plan for making sure everyone gets home safely. Whether we want to avoid looking fussy, don’t want to kill the mood, or assume it’s fine because nobody has had a problem before, these “reasons” for not taking the issue of responsible drinking and marijuana use seriously don’t add up to much more than excuses.This is especially considering the devastating consequences of drinking and driving.
It’s crucial for responsible drinking protocol to be in place at family gatherings. Sure, it might lead to smart remarks, cheeky banter, and groans, but it may also lead to saved lives:
Often Overlooked Prep
Good intentions can lead the way, but several helpful planning tips for safer drinking at family functions are often overlooked. For instance, simply making sure a supply of beer with relatively low alcoholic content can be enough to prevent drinking from turning into drunkenness.
Simply making sure a supply of beer with relatively low alcoholic content can be enough to prevent drinking from turning into drunkenness.
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No matter the type of alcohol or rate of drinking, drunk driving offenses and/or worse can still happen. Therefore it’s a smart idea to have the contact information of a close-by and reputable drunk driving accident lawyer on hand. In the minutes and hours after an incident, when emotions and tensions are high, the due diligence needed to find legal help is unlikely to manifest itself. Having the details at the ready means a family member is less likely to turn to a less than reputable lawyer.
Designated Drivers
The role of the designated driver in preventing drinking related disaster cannot be overstated. In fact, it’s probably mentioned so much it loses its meaning.
Many designated drivers in family function situations drink, despite their critical role behind the wheel. Let’s be clear: the designated driver consumers NO alcohol. Let family members know, appointed DDs stick to soda pop, fruit juice, and water. Here’s a tip: 16 and 17-year-old members of the family make great designated drivers (so long as older relatives aren’t looking the other way and letting them drink!)
Information
Most folks don’t want to end up a statistic. If there’s a Facebook page or other social media forum for the upcoming family event, use it to share some information about drunk driving. For instance, it’s worth letting relatives know the number of drunk driving incidents skyrockets during the holiday season.
Making it clear there will be no tolerance for drug or alcohol abuse in front of the young ones will not only make it harder to get dangerously drunk, but it may remind parents and other older relatives how impressionable youths are, especially around family.
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Furthermore, maybe the nearby police department loves to catch drunk drivers and pot smokers. Even if they don’t – a little bit of misinformation suggesting the local cops are hardliners won’t hurt anybody. In fact, it might achieve the opposite effect.
Exposure
One way to reduce the level of drinking and casual drug use by adults at a family get together is to bring the kids into the picture. Making it clear there will be no tolerance for drug or alcohol abuse in front of the young ones will not only make it harder to get dangerously drunk, but it may remind parents and other older relatives how impressionable youths are, especially around family.
And by the way, the concept of teaching teens about “responsible drinking” by allowing teen drinking to happen under adult supervision is shown to be ineffective. Any adult family members with a history of a laid back attitude about teen drinking ought to be watched closely.
Activity
Another tactic for reducing the level of drinking at a family get-together and consequently reducing the chances of a drunk driving incident is to plan a string of activities, albeit carefully. Simply put, most people drink and smoke pot out of boredom; by keeping family members occupied, they won’t drink and smoke as much.
Maybe it’s a game of horseshoes or tag football. Sure, participants will still have their bottles, cans, and pipes on standby, but they’re likely to use and consume less in the long run.
Rideshare
The final maneuver for preventing a drinking or pot smoking related disaster from befalling relatives after a family gathering is to have a rideshare app at the ready. These handy services basically boil down to an on-demand designated driver if no alternative is available.
Family members choosing to drink and/or smoke pot (especially those doing both) ought to be monitored. Trust your instincts: if they seem unfit to drive, click to request a rideshare driver to take them home.
When family members gather for holidays and ceremonies, alcohol consumption and marijuana use are likely to occur. Take steps to minimize or outright eliminate the chances of drinking and/or pot smoking from causing irreversible damage after the family goes its separate ways. It could save a loved one’s life – and/or the lives of strangers with families of their own.
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