No Bullshit: Happy New Year
December 31, 2008
The Holidays are in full swing. It’s funny that we forget that the "Twelve Days of Christmas" are the twelve days between Christmas and January 6.
As the end of the year nears and the New Year dawns parties and get-togethers become more frequent and wild. Celebrating the New Year with friends often includes alcohol. Too often the festivities become tragedies. We all know that driving under the influence of alcohol (and/or drugs) is dangerous; yet many of us lose our better judgment after a few drinks.
We’ve all heard this, but it cannot be repeated enough:
"Alcohol's Effects Begin Quickly
Many New Year's revelers get into trouble because they generally do not recognize that critical driving-related skills and decision-making abilities are diminished long before they begin to show the obvious physical signs of intoxication. Initially, alcohol acts as a stimulant and if you drink you may temporarily feel upbeat and excited. But don't be fooled. Inhibitions and judgment are soon affected, increasing the chance of making reckless decisions behind the wheel. As more alcohol is consumed, fine motor skills and reaction time begin to suffer and behavior becomes poorly controlled and sometimes aggressive, compromising driving abilities even further. Continued drinking can lead to the slurred speech and loss of coordination and balance that we typically associate with being "drunk." At higher levels alcohol acts as a depressant, which causes people to become sleepy and sometimes pass out.
Even When Drinking Stops -- Alcohol's Effects Do Not
During a night of drinking, it's also easy to misjudge alcohol's lasting effects. Many revelers believe that they can drive safely once they have stopped drinking for the night and have had a strong cup of coffee. The truth is that alcohol continues to affect the brain and body long after the last drink has been downed. Even after someone stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body. As a result, judgment and coordination can be impaired for hours after drinking. Driving home late at night is
especially hazardous because natural drowsiness is magnified by the depressant action of alcohol. Driving abilities may even be impaired the next day, when any alcohol remaining in the system, or the general headache and disorientation associated with hangovers, contributes to the general feelings of sluggishness, even though the person no longer feels "drunk."
Sobering Up -- Myths and Facts
Myth: You can drive as long as you are not slurring words or acting erratically.
Fact: The skills and coordination needed for driving are compromised long before the obvious signs of intoxication are visible. In addition, the sedative effects of alcohol, combined with the late night hours, place you at much greater risk of nodding off or losing attention behind the wheel.
Myth: Drink coffee. Caffeine will sober you up.
Fact: Caffeine may help with drowsiness, but it doesn't counteract the effect of alcohol on decision-making or coordination. The body needs time to metabolize (break down) alcohol and even more time to return to normal. There are no quick cures -- only time will help.
Before You Celebrate-Plan Ahead
No one intends to harm anyone when they get behind the wheel on New Year's Eve. Yet traffic fatalities persist and myths about drinking live on -- even though scientific studies have documented how alcohol affects the brain and body. Because individuals are so different, it is difficult to give specific advice about drinking. But certain facts are clear -- there's no way to speed up the brain's recovery from alcohol and no way to make good decisions when you are drinking too much, too fast. On an evening like New Year's Eve (or any other evening, for that matter), rapid consumption of large amounts of alcohol is especially dangerous." [1]
What you should know
Impaired driving crashes are among the most preventable – simply don’t get behind the wheel after drinking.
Host responsibly. If hosting a party, don’t let your family and friends drive after drinking.
Designate a sober driver. If you plan on drinking, designate a sober driver. Take a taxi, use mass transit, call a friend for a ride.
The best defense against a drunk driver is your seat belt – wear it at all times.
There are no excuses – don’t drive after drinking.
[2]Don’t turn your Happy New Year into catastrophe for yourself, your family, your friends or anyone else or his or her family and friends. Celebrate responsibly.
I wish all of you a very happy and safe New Year. No one can have a happy New Year if they are dead. and that is NO Bullshit!