WASHINGTON, D. C. (Friday, February 2, 2018) –– You don’t have to know how to decipher Roman numerals to know that Super Bowl LII is a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX, and the occasion, and the name of the game, for one of the biggest party weekends of the year. Unfortunately, Super Bowl Sunday is also one of the most popular drinking days. And that’s saying a lot, given the fact that “on average, U.S. adults consume seven alcohol beverages per week.” On any given “Super Sunday” 49.2 million cases of beer will be sold in the United States.

Festivities for Sunday’s big game are fast approaching with scores of people making plans as to where to watch and what they will eat and drink. As Americans gulp 1.2 billion wings and swig “325.5 million gallons of beer,” AAA Mid-Atlantic advises party planners and football fans to prepare by designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation options. It’s “a big year for the big game,” as Americans adults will spend an average of $81.17 for a total of $15.3 billion” on Super Bowl LII festivities, estimates the National Retail Federation (NRF). The 2018 NRF survey also reveals:

·         “45 million American Adults (18 percent) will host a Super Bowl Party.”

·         “69 Million Americans (28 percent) plan to attend a Super Bowl Party.”

·         “Bars and restaurants will entice 11 million Americans (5 percent) planning to watch at their favorite local spot.”

Alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities often spike on holidays and popular drinking days, like Super Bowl Sunday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Drunk driving can be deadly, and even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgement to make driving unsafe. Over one-third of all traffic fatalities occurring in the United States on Super Bowl Sunday involves alcohol-impaired drivers, warn NHTSA and the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP).  Drive sober or get pulled over, area law enforcement agencies are warning.

·         The Virginia State Police made 47 DUI arrests during the 2017 Super Bowl. 

·         The Maryland State Police arrested 51 persons on area roadways for driving under the influence over the Super Bowl Weekend in 2016, “including one of their own troopers.”

·         Annually, alcohol-impaired fatalities in the District of Columbia have fluctuated from 5 in 2014 to 7 in 2017, and the number of impaired-related injuries fluctuated between 76 in 2012 and 122 in 2016, according to the District’s Highway Safety Office.

“Drinking and driving is not a game – it’s a deadly combination and a crime – both of which are 100 percent preventable,” said John B. Townsend II, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Make your winning drive a sober one and designate a driver before you indulge in game day spirits.  Don’t fumble when it comes to safety.”

 In 2016, there were 10,497 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drunk drivers. “Among the 10,497 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, 67 percent (7,052) were in crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC of .15, almost twice the legal limit.”   

An estimated 188.5 million football fans will watch the Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots that has been fourteen years in the making. Whether you are throwing a party on game day, planning to attend a party, or watching the big game from your favorite bar stool, here are some extremely important things to keep in mind.

Tips for a Safe Big Game Party

Be a responsible partygoer:

·         If you plan to drive, don’t drink.

·         If you plan to drink, select a designated driver and give them your car keys. If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, or stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

·         Buckle up—it’s your best defense against other impaired drivers.

Be a responsible host:

·         Offer food and non-alcoholic beverages.

·         Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.

·         Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.

·         Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.

·         Serve up some mocktails. Party-givers serve them interspersed with regular cocktails, non-drinkers enjoy mocktails as fun-to-make, festive beverages, and kids love them because it makes them feel like they’re a part of the party. Click aaa.com/mocktails to learn more and get recipes.

Each year Maryland experiences an average of 7,884 impaired-driving related crashes. The Maryland State Police will conduct saturation patrols this “Super Sunday” weekend, as it does for all the major holidays and events. “Under Virginia law,” for example, “a police officer must witness a misdemeanor aggressive/reckless driving offense or has reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle.”

“Motorists in the Greater Washington area who suspect they are sharing a roadway with an impaired driver should report such by safely dialing 911 in the District of Columbia, or in Maryland, and #77 in Virginia,” advise WRAP and AAA Mid-Atlantic. 

This is the most effective means to report a reckless and dangerous drivers to area police departments and law enforcement agencies.  Callers to 911 or #77 “need not reveal their names, addresses, or phone numbers if they wish to remain anonymous when reporting a crime or incident.”

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com