Whether you’re hosting or attending a New Year’s Eve party, everyone has an important job: Help keep drunk drivers off the road so we can all make it home safely on New Year's Eve.

If you’re going out to ring in the New Year and plan to drink alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver to get you home safely at the end of the night. If you’re hosting a party, prepare plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options for your guests, especially for the designated drivers. If you’re a designated driver, keep that commitment front and center.

“New Year’s Eve is a special night for our community to celebrate, but we need responsible drivers on our roads,” said Katie Harris, MSN, RN, MercyOne Dubuque Emergency Department Director. “Make sure you have a plan, so you don’t end up without a designated driver if you need one.”
Drunk Driving Data

• It is illegal to drive impaired.
• As of 2023, every day, 37 people in the United States die in car crashes with an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 39 minutes. (CDC)
• Ride-sharing has decreased alcohol-related US traffic fatalities by 6.1% and reduced overall US traffic deaths by 4%. (National Bureau of Economic Research)
• More than a quarter (31%) of all traffic-related deaths are the direct result of alcohol impairment. (NHTSA)
• Drunk drivers are often more prevalent at nighttime than during the day. (CARTS)
• Drivers with a Blood Alcohol Content of over 0.10 are 7 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than sober drivers. (Responsibility.org)
• Males are more likely than females to be driving drunk when involved in fatal crashes. (iihs.org)

• Less Weight = More Impact: The less you weigh, the less blood volume you have, meaning the same amount of alcohol is more concentrated, leading to quicker intoxication. 
• Your liver metabolizes alcohol at a consistent rate (about 0.015% BAC per hour), regardless of weight or gender.
• Lean Body Mass: Studies suggest that higher fat-free mass (muscle) is linked to faster alcohol elimination, especially in women, meaning they clear alcohol quicker. 

• Prepare plenty of food.
• Provide non-alcoholic drinks for your guests and the designated drivers.
• Ask your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance.
• Remind drinking guests that they have a long evening ahead and encourage them to pace themselves, eat food, and drink plenty of water.
• Never serve alcohol to minors. If an underage person drinks and drives, the person who provided the alcohol can be held liable for any damage, injury, or death caused by the underage driver.

• Commit to a sober evening.
• If you are attending a party or are at a bar or restaurant, enjoy the food, the company, and the nonalcoholic drinks. Your positive influence could help keep them on the right track.
• If someone you know has been drinking and tries to drive, take their keys and help them get home safely.
• Remember: You’re the night’s quarterback, and others rely on you. 

• Designate a sober driver.
• Call a taxi or rideshare.
• Take advantage of your community’s sober ride program
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement.

• Equip your car with these items: Blankets or a sleeping bag; First-Aid kit; a can and matches to use to melt snow for drinking water; windshield scraper; booster cables; road maps or GPS; mobile phone; compass; tool kit; paper towels; a bag of sand or cat litter (to pour on ice or snow for traction); tow rope; collapsible shovel; a container of water and high-calorie canned or dried food and a can opener; flashlight and extra batteries; canned, compressed air to fix a flat temporarily; brightly colored cloth to attach to the car to notify others you are there.