Avoiding the drinking-driving mix on New Year

New Delhi: It’s that time of the year when it draws to a close, and no one requires any excuse to paint the town red to see the year off in style. However, there are no excuses for drinking and driving, either.

There's nothing more serious or potentially fatal than taking the wheel after that extra drink.

Last year, on New Year’s Eve in Delhi, 45 per cent of vehicles were driven by drivers high on alcohol. The voluntary group Campaign Against Drunken Driving has given the figure of 700 cases of drunken driving in Delhi alone.

Those who do drink may think they have great reflexes even after a couple of shots, but that is not true.

Neurologist Dr Mukul Varma says that alcohol impairs vision and perception and reduces reflex time.

Therefore, the relative risk of a fatal crash after drinking and driving increases by almost 200 per cent, and every accident like this is preventable.

There are ways to circumvent a tragic end to a fine evening.

A designated driver should be at hand. It is best to know one’s limit and exercise strict control over alcohol intake. It is advisable to eat high protein food while drinking as that would slow the alcohol absorption in the body. Also, watch out for your fellow party-goers and make sure they are not inebriated if they have to drive.

These days, most clubs also offer the services of a chauffeur so it is advisable to opt for that.

Says Knight by Castle’s owner Sudhir Goria, “Our bartenders keep a watch on people who are drinking heavily. For such guests, we have a taxi service as well as our own cars to drop them. Safety is of prime importance.”

Reflexes are not what they should be with even one peg of alcohol down. Your best bet for a great year would be to make the responsible choice between drinking and the drivers’ state.

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#Alcohol #drinking and driving #high-protein food