Holiday weekend calls for responsible drinking

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. --  What is drunken driving? The answer is easy, as the law in Florida defines it as anyone with a .08 blood alcohol level. But what's "buzzed" driving?

It's a tricky question, says Dave O'Neil, 6th Air Mobility Wing safety specialist. That's why the best advice is to have a designated driver if you have been drinking any alcohol, a message particularly importing heading into the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The word during the Impaired Driving National Enforcement Crackdown, which runs through Sept. 6, is that "buzzed driving is drunk driving."

"Being buzzed might not get you arrested," said Mr. O'Neil, but that's no reason to think it is wise to get behind the wheel.

Not only do police have a lot of latitude in deciding when a person is impaired, the chance of an accident increases whenever alcohol is introduced.

"The best insurance is to have someone along, a wingman, who isn't going to be drinking at all," said Mr. O'Neil. "The designated driver is a part of the plan you make before going out."

The wing goal is to create a responsible drinking culture, which is represented in the 0-0-1-3 campaign, which provides guidance to Airmen:

0 = Zero underage consumption. Approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die each year due to alcohol related incidents. According to the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, the highest prevalence of alcohol dependence is among 18 to 20-year olds.

0 = Zero driving under the influence incidents. Driving under the influence kills thousands of people each year.

1 = One drink per hour. This is the standard amount of alcohol that the liver can process and metabolize in an hour. Higher intakes can cause liver, heart and stomach diseases, high blood pressure and obesity.

3 = Three drinks maximum per outing. This standard has been established to ensure that you stay below 0.05 blood alcohol concentration and deter binge drinking, which can lead to irrational decision making.

Following the 0-0-1-3 guidelines is designed to keep Airmen below the legal threshold for drunken driving, but is not a permission slip for driving.
"It's different for everyone, depending on their body and other factors," said Mr. O'Neil. "That's why the best advice is to play it safe and have a designated driver."