April is Alcohol Responsibility Month

April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, but focusing on responsible drinking is important year-round. Responsibility.org is celebrating the 30th year of Alcohol Responsibility Month and all the achievements they’ve helped make over the years.

The organization, The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, is now known colloquially as Responsibility.org, which is also the URL for their website. The foundation was started in 1991, and they’ve achieved a great deal in the past 30 years. Some of their recent achievements include:

• Drunk driving fatalities have decreased by 36%
• The percentage of teenagers who report drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime has gone from 80% to 44%, and binge drinking has been nearly cut in half.
• Eighty-seven percent of American adults report that they feel confident they drink responsibly.

The foundation compiled several videos of personal stories at their special 30th anniversary website, https://www.responsibility.org/30years. In addition, Responsibility.org is hosting online events and publishing content on topics like talking to your kids about drinking, understanding what influences blood alcohol content, and more.

Responsibility.org focuses on many things related to responsible alcohol use, including drunk driving prevention. Despite the significant decreases in drunk driving fatalities, many people are still killed in alcohol-related driving incidents every year. Preventing drunk driving is very important.

How Can You Prevent Drunk Driving?

Getting a DUI is a deterrent to driving drunk, but it’s also much too late. Getting caught for a DUI means you’ve already driven drunk, and perhaps have done so many times before getting caught. There are many choices you can make instead of getting behind the wheel. Consider these alternatives:

• Cab or rideshare — if you drink more than you planned to, call a cab or rideshare to get home instead of driving. Even if you have to pick your car up the next day, you’ll be much safer that way.
• Choose a designated sober driver — this is old advice, but it’s always relevant. If you’re going out with a group, make sure you have a plan in place. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is have a sober driver, and you can rotate or draw straws if no one volunteers.
• Public transportation — if you live in an area with reliable public transportation, this is a great way to get home after a night of drinking. If possible, travel with a buddy for safety.

Of course, the main way to prevent drunk driving is to stay sober yourself. If you are struggling with sobriety, an ignition interlock device might help prevent you from following through on dangerous choices.

Many states require ignition interlock devices as a condition of regaining their license, and many drivers choose this option as they need to drive to work. Once an IID is installed, drivers will have to test their Breath Alcohol Content before they can start their car. The allowable BrAC may vary depending on the state, but anything showing a BrAC over the limit will be considered a failed result. Drivers will have to wait to retest and will only be able to start their car once they pass.

Intoxalock ignition interlock devices are affordable, reliable, and convenient. Intoxalock has more locations than any other IID provider, and our customer service team is available 24/7 to assist with any questions you may have.