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Prevent Drunk Driving: Plan Ahead and Know How the Body Works

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Alcohol is proven to impair judgement, so plan ahead when you are drinking.
Alcohol is proven to impair judgement, so plan ahead when you are drinking.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 10,000 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents in 2013 alone. That number accounts for almost one third of all traffic related deaths in the country that year. Before you get behind the wheel after a few drinks, experts say you should stop and think about alternatives.

“D.W.I.’s are one of those things that everybody has to be cautious of,“ said Lt. Krag Gray of the Greenwich Police Department.

“People will always say ‘if you’re drinking, what you need to do is have caffeine, eat a lot of food, or exercise, or take a shower’. No,” said Dr. Jeremy Barowsky, Director of Addiction Medicine at Greenwich Hospital.

The law states that a person over 21 years old can have a blood alcohol content of up to .08 precent while driving.thumbnail

“If you want to be very cut and dry and not think about the exceptions, it’s generally four drinks for a man and three drinks for a woman,” said Barowsky.

Dr. Jeremy Barowsky is the Director of Addiction Medicine at Greenwich Hospital and says a standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, four to five ounces of wine, and one and a half ounces of 80 proof liquor. He says men and women process these same drinks differently and the only thing that really clears alcohol from the body is time.

“The body clears one drink per hour,” said Barowsky.

The best way to prevent yourself from getting behind the wheel once you’ve been drinking is making a plan ahead of time.

“We realize that alcohol does effect the reasoning brain and you might make bad decisions while drinking,” said Lt. Kraig Gray.

Lt. Kraig Gray of the Greenwich Police Department suggests going out with a designated sober driver, planning to have a sober friend or family member pick you up, or calling a taxi service.

The Greenwich United Way has a program called Safe Rides that ensures high school students a safe, sober, and anonymous ride home.

“It’s not a taxi service, we can only take you home,” said Greenwich Safe Rides Board President Peter Negrea. “But, we are there for you to make sure everyone gets home safe. That’s our job.”

Barowsky says the best way to keep your BAC low is alternating a pint glass of beer for a smaller, eight ounce pour, or drinking half a glass of wine instead of a full one. He also says there are phone apps that can test a person’s BAC.

“They can test themselves and know what their limit is,” said Barowsky.

You can find the contact information for Greenwich Safe Rides by clicking here, and get more tips on preventing drunk by clicking here.

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