Super Bowl and DUI Don’t Mix

The long awaited Super Bowl XLIX is coming up, and experts say that DUIs will also spike over the weekend, especially on Sunday. Mothers Against Drunk Driving notes that Super Bowl Sunday is often one of the deadliest days of the year in terms of DUI crashes, with 43 percent of all fatal accidents on that day caused by alcohol consumption. In order to stay safe on Super Bowl Sunday, experts advise that fans make a plan before the big game to stay sober or to find alternatives to driving. Here are some tips to make Super Bowl Sunday safe and avoid DUI charges:

• Use a designated driver. The number-one preventative measure you can take is to use a designated driver. Designated drivers should agree not to drink any alcohol at all; even one drink can cause problems if you are stopped. Never use the practice of allowing the “least drunk” member of your party to drive; the designated driver should be chosen in advance and should be alcohol-free throughout the party.
• Stay over. Another alternative to drunk driving is to stay put. If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, provide a spot for those who may have had too much to drink to stay for the night. Only time will sober someone up; hot coffee, showers and other measures do not change blood alcohol content. In fact, giving a drunk person coffee can be counterproductive, because the caffeine can cause a false sense of alertness, leading the driver to believe he or she has “sobered up.” Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can also contribute to dehydration, making the symptoms of drunkenness, such as light-headedness or blurry vision, worse.
• If you do have a drink, practice moderation if you are going to drive. The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of one drink per hour. A drink is identified as 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. However, these numbers can change quickly given body weight and other individual factors. For most people, having one beer in four hours is not a problem. Having four beers in four hours may cause the person to become impaired, however.

If you are charged with DUI, it is very important that you speak to a defense attorney immediately. The attorneys at the Oswalt Law Group in Phoenix are here to help you, and encourage you to have a safe and exciting Super Bowl Sunday!