FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN
By John C. Wolf, D.O.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine®
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

AVOID DRUNK DRIVING AND "DRUNK WALKING" THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE

Question: I don't drink alcohol very often, but I usually do have a few drinks at our New Year's Eve party. How many drinks does it take to make a person drunk, and is it any different for those who drink alcohol regularly? I'm concerned about letting our guests drive home.

Answer: It's almost time to ring in the new year an occasion that many people will celebrate by raising a few toasts. While moderate drinking is acceptable in our society, drinking to the point of getting drunk is not. And, when a person is drunk, there's absolutely no excuse for trying to drive a car.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that about 42 percent of the fatal vehicle accidents in this country involve alcohol, and that about 17,000 Americans lose their lives in alcohol-related accidents each year. Other CDC data show that it's also not a good idea to let a person who is drunk walk home. About 1,700 Americans lose their lives by "walking drunk" each year more than one-third the total number of pedestrian deaths.

Your concern for your guests is admirable and appropriate. Every accident involving a drunk driver or pedestrian is a needless tragedy. You can be sure that hundreds of people will again have their holiday season spoiled this year by excessive New Year's Eve drinking.

It takes the average person one to two hours to eliminate the average alcoholic drink, such as an ounce of distilled liquor, a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. Given this fact, a good, conservative rule of thumb is that if you have had more than one drink for each two hours that you have been at a party, don't drive. Also, remember that inebriation is generally brought on quicker if you drink on an empty stomach.

Regular consumption of alcohol doesn't change the effect of this drug; however, the frequent drinker does develop a sense that he or she is less impaired by it. Numerous studies have shown that this is only a "sense" of being less influenced by alcohol. The time required to make a decision and then react to a driving situation goes up with each drink, regardless of how accustomed the person is to drinking.

If you are hosting a party at which alcohol is served, you have a responsibility to your guests. Suggest that your guests come in groups and that each group select a "designated driver." Make non-alcoholic beverages available, preferably served in the same type of glasses as the alcohol, for the designated driver and for anyone else who chooses not to consume alcohol. Guests should not be persuaded to drink, nor ridiculed if they choose not to. Snacking should be encouraged. Coffee should be served in the last hour or so of the party. Although coffee does not counteract the alcohol as some people believe, it does offset drowsiness, and a lengthy period of socializing over coffee provides guests time to sober up before heading home.

Most importantly, anybody who is obviously drunk should not be allowed to drive under any circumstances and probably shouldn't be allowed to walk home either. Instead, insist that this person stay overnight, go home with somebody else or take a taxi. This isn't just for the safety of the intoxicated individual and that of other motorists, but also for your protection. In some states you may now be held legally responsible for any injury the intoxicated person causes after leaving your party drunk.

By following these steps, you can help to assure that your 1995 will get off to a safe start.

On behalf of all of us at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy, peaceful New Year.

Here's to your health!

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to John C. Wolf, D.O., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701.