Legal landscape note: This article was originally published in 2019 and describes the law as it stood at that time. New Jersey law changes frequently.
The barbecue ran long, the cooler is empty, and you feel fine to drive the ten minutes home. That is the calculation thousands of drivers make every summer weekend, and it is the one that ends in a roadside stop, a field sobriety test, and a DWI charge. Summer barbecues, pool parties and picnics make it easy to get casual about drinking -- so if you need to drive, know when to stop, and know when it's time to call a friend instead.
During the summer we have holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, which statistically are the highest ranked holidays for drunk driving fatalities. According to the United States Department of Transportation, 39% of the 601 total deaths due to motor vehicle traffic accidents on the Fourth of July, 2017 occurred in alcohol impaired crashes. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ranked the Fourth of July as the deadliest day of the year.
The Fourth has come and gone, but as we look forward to the Labor Day festivities that are just around the corner, keep in mind that there are ways to avoid impaired driving.
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If you’re the designated driver, don’t drink! If you feel left out try a non-alcoholic cocktail or juice mixed with seltzer water!
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If you decide to have a drink or two, try not to overdo it, and make sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking water in between beverages.
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Never drink on an empty stomach! According to a 1994 study, having a full meal before drinking affects the way your body metabolizes alcohol. This means that having food in your stomach gives your body the ability to slow the absorption process.
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Set a time to stop drinking. If you know that you need to leave by a specific time, limit your alcohol intake and know when to stop!
Most importantly, if you think you’ve had too much, don’t drive! Call a friend, a relative, a Taxi, Uber, or Lyft. There are so many ways to get around now without getting behind the wheel, it’s easy to make the responsible choice.
Don’t drive drunk. A higher police presence in the summer months also means a greater chance of encountering a sobriety checkpoint, so arrange a sober ride before the event begins.