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“Thanksgiving is the time where families and friends celebrate with one another with food and merriment in anticipation of the upcoming holidays. We wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday and urge hosts and guests to remember to plan ahead and avoid drunk and drugged driving,” said Fort Myers DUI Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that 463 people died on Thanksgiving in 2017, and alcohol impairment was involved in about a third of these fatalities. 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are some of the most dangerous days of the year in the United States. Every holiday season from November 1^st through December 31^st, MADD asks everyone to visibly display a MADD red ribbon to remind others to always have a designated non-drinking driver.  MADD suggests displaying the ribbon in a visible location on vehicles.  Red ribbons, magnets, and window decals are available through local MADD offices.

In addition, MADD wants every host to know the following: 

• Don’t rely on coffee to sober up your guests. Only time can make someone sober. 
• Beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor. A 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler, and 1 ½-ounces of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol. 
• Don’t rely on someone’s physical appearance to determine if they have had too much to drink.
• Mixers won’t help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person’s system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more. 
• In planning parties, MADD says 
• As guests RSVP, confirm at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver.
• Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
• Avoid too many salty snacks, which tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails for designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol. And as the evening progresses, decrease the amount of alcohol poured in drinks and replace it with mixers.
• Be prepared by having the number of a taxi service on hand for those who need a ride. Also, be ready with some clean linen so you can turn your sofa into a hotel for guests who need to sleep it off. 
• During the party, MADD’s recommendations are: 
• Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age, and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
  Don’t let guests mix their own drinks. Choosing a reliable “bartender” will help you keep track of the size and number of drinks that guests consume.
• If a guest appears to be drinking a bit much, offer to refresh his or her drink with a virgin version.
• Do not push drinks. Drinking at a party is not mandatory for having a good time.
• Have fun, but not too much fun. To be a good host, you should stay within your limits in order to make sure your guests stay within theirs.
• Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends and serve a great dessert treat with coffee. Remember, only time sobers someone who has been drinking.
• If, despite your efforts, some of your guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi, or invite them to stay over. 

“If you or a loved one is injured in an accident, we are available to assist you 24/7, even during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend,” said Attorney Spivey.

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.