Protect Yourself

Alcohol Problems

Driving When Drunk

Driving while either intoxicated or drunk is dangerous and drivers with high blood alcohol content or concentration are at greatly increased risk of car accidents, highway injuries and deaths. Possible prevention measures examined here include suspending or revoking driver licenses, impounding or confiscating vehicle plates, impounding or immobilizing vehicles, increasing penalties such as fines or jail for drunk driving, and mandating alcohol education. Safety seat belts, air bags, designated drivers, and effective practical ways to stay sober are also discussed.

Protect Others

  1. Volunteer to be a designated driver.
  2. Never condone or approve of excessive alcohol consumption.
  3. Don’t ever let your friends drive drunk. Take their keys, have them stay the night, have them ride home with someone else, call a cab, or do whatever else is necessary – but don’t let them drive!

 

You Can and Must even Do Better

Remember, don’t ever, ever drive if you, or anyone else, thinks that you may have had too much to drink. And don’t let anyone else. That includes reporting drivers who may be drunk. It’s always safest not to drink and drive.

Protect Yourself

  1. Volunteer to be a designated driver.
  2. Always use a safety seat belt.
  3. Use four-lane highways whenever possible.
  4. Avoid rural roads.
  5. Avoid travel after midnight (especially on Fridays and Saturdays).
  6. Drive defensively.
  7. Choose vehicles with airbags.
  8. Refer to safety ratings before selecting your next vehicle.
  9. Never use illegal drugs. Illicit drugs are involved in a large proportion of traffic fatalities.
  10. Never drive when fatigued. The dangers posed when fatigued are similar to those when intoxicated. A drunk or fatigued driver has slowed reactions and impaired judgment. And a driver who nods off at the wheel has no reactions and no judgment!
  11. Don’t use a car phone, put on make-up, comb your hair, or eat while driving. Drivers using cellular phones are four times more likely to have an accident than other drivers. 29
  12. Steer clear of aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers may be responsible for more deaths than drunk drivers.

If You Must Drive After Drinking , Stay Completely Sober

  1. Don’t be fooled. When it comes to alcohol, a drink is a drink is a drink and are all the same to a breathalyzer.
  2. Know your limit. If you are not sure, experiment at home with your spouse or some other responsible individual.
  3. Eat food while you drink. Food, especially high protein food such as meat, cheese and peanuts, will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your body.
  4. Sip your drink. If you gulp a drink, you lose the pleasure of savoring its flavors and aromas.
  5. Don’t participate in “chugging” contests or other drinking games.
  6. Accept a drink only when you really want one. If someone tries to force a drink on you, ask for a non-alcohol beverage instead.
  7. Skip a drink now and then. Having a non-alcoholic drink between alcoholic ones will help keep your blood alcohol content level down, as does spacing out your alcoholic drinks
  8. A good general guideline for most people is to limit consumption of alcohol beverages to one drink (beer, wine or spirits) per hour.
  9. Keep active; don’t just sit around and drink. If you stay active you tend to drink less and to be more aware of any effects alcohol may be having on you.
  10. Beware of unfamiliar drinks. Some drinks, can be deceiving as the alcohol content is not detectable. Therefore, it is difficult to space them properly.
  11. Use alcohol carefully in connection with pharmaceuticals. Ask your physician or pharmacist about any precautions or prohibitions and follow any advice received.

Alcohol and Cancer

It is known that heavy alcohol drinking is associated with increased risk of developing cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and that moderate drinking has been associated with a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer. On the other hand, it is also known that moderate drinking is associated with reduced risk of developing thyroid cancer, lymphoma, kidney (renal) cancer, and certain other cancers.

This study conducted a meta-analysis of 18 prospective cohort studies and, based on the nearly 50,000 deaths that occurred over time, found that

  1. light drinkers, (those who consumed up to about one drink per day), had a 9% reduced risk of dying from any type of cancer than did non-drinkers or occasional drinkers.
  2. Moderate drinkers, (those who consumed up to about four and one-third drinks per day), had no increased risk of death from cancer
  3. Heavy drinkers, (those who drank over about four and one-third drinks per day), had an increased risk of dying from cancer.

This study found a significant reduction in all-cancer mortality among light drinkers with no adverse effects on such deaths among moderate drinkers (those consuming up to about four and one-third drinks per day).