The holiday season is filled with festive events that often involve consumption of alcohol. Police officers recognize this and have increased DWI enforcement going on through the month of December. So before you get behind the wheel after that 5th glass of eggnog, here are 4 alternatives to drinking and driving this holiday season.
- Plan a sober ride. You hear it all the time. Plan ahead. Have a designated driver. Just make sure that the person who has agreed to sober drive is committed to actually driving sober at the end of the night. Make sure this person knows their limits. Remember, buzzed driving is still drunk driving and can still result in a DWI.
- Call a Cab. This seems like a no-brainer right? Depending on the distance you’re travelling, cabs can be pretty pricey, but it will certainly be cheaper than the costs associated with a DUI charge. And if you can get a group together and split the cost of the cab, it becomes much more affordable.
- Public Transportation. If you live close enough to the cities to catch a bus or light rail to and from your destination, do it. Minneapolis & St. Paul have a great public transit system. It’s easy to use and cheap ($1-$3 depending on the bus and the time of day). Unfortunately this isn’t really an option for people who live out in the suburbs.
- Walk. This option is limited to those who live close enough to reasonably walk. Of course, if you’re travelling 10 miles to your destination this won’t be an option, but if your party is only a mile away, this could be a great alternative to driving. You’ll get a little cold, sure, but it certainly beats getting pulled over on your drive home.
Whatever your plans are this holiday season, remember to make good decisions about drinking and driving and stay safe on those icy roads!
