Avoiding a DUI Around the Holidays

DUI/DWI

12/16/2011
Steven J. Richardson
Comments (0)

Avoiding a DUI Around the Holidays

It is December 16, and I have already attended three Christmas parties. You have probably been to about the same by now if you think about it. This is the time of year when people socialize more and, unfortunately, drink more. Some of them tend to have just a little too much of the holiday "spirits" and end up getting a ticket for DUI on the way home. Not a very good Christmas present!

What people do not realize is how quickly you can reach the legal limit in New Jersey (0.08%), and there are lots of myths out there about absorbtion rate, weight, and how much you had to eat with the alcohol. Don't believe any of them! If you are going to be drinking, do not drive! Get a designated driver. The consequences of getting a New Jersey DWI are just too high, not to mention attorneys fees that can start at $800 to $1,000!

The question I get is, just how easy is it to get to 0.08%? How many beers, glasses of merlot, or martinis does it take to get blotto? To get the answer I finally just "Googled it" and found a really neat web utility by the University of Oklahoma Police Department. Put in your weight, drinking time in hours, number, and type of drink, and it will kick out a blood alcohol level.

You should not rely on this app to keep you legal! But you should allow it to convince you of how quickly you can get drunk. For example, a 140 lb. college student (who shouldn't be drinking anyway, but that's another matter) puts away a six pack over a three hour period. He is now legally drunk, according to this calculator.

The holiday season should be one of joy and good cheer, not police sirens and breathalyzers. Although I am always looking for new clients, I do not want a DUI to ruin your holiday, career, or life. Be more mindful of how impaired even one drink can make you, and let the sober person drive if you have had too much of the egg nog. Have a happy holiday and a wonderful new year!