Preventing impaired driving
Sitting around a campfire at your cottage with friends and having a beer or some wine can be a fun way to pass the time, but when the night comes to an end, getting home can be a problem.
"Statistically the majority of deaths for alcohol-related reasons do happen during the spring and summer, the big months being July and August, and it tends to be a spike over the long weekends," says Andrew Murie, CEO of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
A study conducted by British Columbia's Traffic Accident System in 1999 showed that weekends are the most common time for alcohol-related traffic accidents. Over 50 per cent of all injuries and deaths involving alcohol-related collisions happened on a weekend.
Responsible hosting
Murie says it's important to realize that even if you would never consider driving under the influence of alcohol yourself, as a host you need to make sure your guests will not be driving drunk either. You are responsible when you serve alcohol or host alcohol related activities," says Murie.
MADD isn't the only organization that promotes responsible hosting. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) offers tips for responsible entertaining on their website
"We encourage people to enjoy alcohol in moderation and we give them tips because we know...in certain times of the year people will be entertaining," says Chris Layton, an LCBO spokesperson.
As the main source of where consumers buy alcohol, Layton says it's important to the LCBO to make sure that they also supply customers with tools to know how to use the products in a responsible manner.
So if you're welcoming visitors to your cottage or to a campsite and you're serving alcohol, check out our 10 tips to make sure your gathering is a safe one.
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