Cincinnati nightlife: If you drink, don't drive
Date Posted:
Wed, Nov 10 2010,
Examiner.com
Of course the next line is “Do the watermelon crawl”, but for those of us not at a hoedown, we need a more efficient way to get home after a night of partying.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, nearly 12,000 people were killed in an alcohol-impaired driving accident in 2008, which accounted for nearly one-third of all vehicle accidents. The penalty in Ohio for driving under the influence can be a fine up to $1000 and loss of license, not to mention possible incarceration.
Every state in the US has a blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of at least 0.08%. If you’re not sure how many drinks are equivalent to that, check out The Original BAC Calculator; it gives you an estimate of your BAC based on your weight and how much you’ve theoretically drank. This guesstimate will help you know when you need to stop. They also have BAC charts explaining high BAC levels’ consequences and tips about staying sober so you don’t become one of the 1.5 million people who were arrested for driving under the influence.
The best way to avoid a DUI is to designate a driver to stay sober and drive everyone home. Not everyone covets this title, so either alternate with friends or have the inebriates the DD is driving home chip in to buy the DD dinner or something. Also, most bars do not charge for water or pop, so the DD can drink for free all night. Also, some bars even offer DD specials. When you get to the bar, inform the bartender that you’re the DD and he or she may make you a special drink for free to thank you.
If you can’t find a DD or your DD joins in on the phone, call a cab. In this day in age where everyone has a cell phone, everyone should have at least one taxi service saved to their contacts. You never know when you will need a ride. Just Google “taxi” and your zip code to find a service near you. To save money, share a cab or have the driver drop all of your friends off at one place.
As an alternate to finding a taxi, in Cincinnati, drinkers can call BeMyDD for a ride. They offer a driver-for-hire for only $12.50 per hour. The driver will pick you up, drive you around in your car, and then drop you and your car off at home. They accept cash and credit, but you must enroll in their program, which costs $25 per year. BeMyDD offers service in the tri-state area, between Dayton and Louisville. They are open to make reservations from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. 365 days a year and recommend you call at least two hours ahead of time. The company also offers a pickup service, costing $25 plus mileage, which will pick you and your car up from any location and drive the two back home, eliminating the fear and hassle of leaving your car at a strange bar. Just call 1-877-U-BeMyDD to reserve your driver. Safe, easy, and cheap.
321-Ride in Norwood offers a similar service to the taxi with a convenient ending: For $40 and mileage, the company will pick up you and your car and return you both home. 321-Ride is available seven days a week from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. except on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Before you can use them, you must visit their website and sign up for the $200 membership. After joining, the company keeps your information on file so when you call, you don’t have to worry about payment; it will simply be charged to the account you used when registering. 321-RIDE provides service to Ohio and Kentucky, within seven miles of the 275 loop. You can simply call or text 513-321-RIDE for your pickup.
With so many cheap alternatives to drunk driving, people should more easily be able to avoid it. Drunk driving doesn’t just put you in danger; it puts everyone around you in danger. So be smart and avoid hefty penalties. And remember, as we say in Ohio, “Over the limit, under arrest.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, nearly 12,000 people were killed in an alcohol-impaired driving accident in 2008, which accounted for nearly one-third of all vehicle accidents. The penalty in Ohio for driving under the influence can be a fine up to $1000 and loss of license, not to mention possible incarceration.
Every state in the US has a blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of at least 0.08%. If you’re not sure how many drinks are equivalent to that, check out The Original BAC Calculator; it gives you an estimate of your BAC based on your weight and how much you’ve theoretically drank. This guesstimate will help you know when you need to stop. They also have BAC charts explaining high BAC levels’ consequences and tips about staying sober so you don’t become one of the 1.5 million people who were arrested for driving under the influence.
The best way to avoid a DUI is to designate a driver to stay sober and drive everyone home. Not everyone covets this title, so either alternate with friends or have the inebriates the DD is driving home chip in to buy the DD dinner or something. Also, most bars do not charge for water or pop, so the DD can drink for free all night. Also, some bars even offer DD specials. When you get to the bar, inform the bartender that you’re the DD and he or she may make you a special drink for free to thank you.
If you can’t find a DD or your DD joins in on the phone, call a cab. In this day in age where everyone has a cell phone, everyone should have at least one taxi service saved to their contacts. You never know when you will need a ride. Just Google “taxi” and your zip code to find a service near you. To save money, share a cab or have the driver drop all of your friends off at one place.
As an alternate to finding a taxi, in Cincinnati, drinkers can call BeMyDD for a ride. They offer a driver-for-hire for only $12.50 per hour. The driver will pick you up, drive you around in your car, and then drop you and your car off at home. They accept cash and credit, but you must enroll in their program, which costs $25 per year. BeMyDD offers service in the tri-state area, between Dayton and Louisville. They are open to make reservations from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. 365 days a year and recommend you call at least two hours ahead of time. The company also offers a pickup service, costing $25 plus mileage, which will pick you and your car up from any location and drive the two back home, eliminating the fear and hassle of leaving your car at a strange bar. Just call 1-877-U-BeMyDD to reserve your driver. Safe, easy, and cheap.
321-Ride in Norwood offers a similar service to the taxi with a convenient ending: For $40 and mileage, the company will pick up you and your car and return you both home. 321-Ride is available seven days a week from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. except on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Before you can use them, you must visit their website and sign up for the $200 membership. After joining, the company keeps your information on file so when you call, you don’t have to worry about payment; it will simply be charged to the account you used when registering. 321-RIDE provides service to Ohio and Kentucky, within seven miles of the 275 loop. You can simply call or text 513-321-RIDE for your pickup.
With so many cheap alternatives to drunk driving, people should more easily be able to avoid it. Drunk driving doesn’t just put you in danger; it puts everyone around you in danger. So be smart and avoid hefty penalties. And remember, as we say in Ohio, “Over the limit, under arrest.”