How to Avoid Drinking and Driving During the Holidays: Practical Tips That Actually Help

Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas gatherings, office parties, and New Year’s Eve all bring opportunities to drink... and real pressure to drive afterward.



1. Expect the Social Pressure and Plan for It

One of the hardest parts of avoiding drinking and driving isn’t the alcohol itself — it’s the social pressure.

During the holidays, you may hear things like:

• “Come on, just have one more.”
• “You’re fine to drive.”
• “It’s only a few minutes down the road.”

A simple line works:

• “I’m not risking it tonight. I’ll Uber/ride with someone/crash here if I need to.”

Say it confidently, calmly, and early. People tend to respect boundaries when they’re stated ahead of time.

2. Make a Transportation Plan Before the First Drink

If you wait until you feel buzzed to decide how you’re getting home, the decision-making part of your brain is already weakened.

Before the event:

• Pick a designated driver
• Schedule an Uber/Lyft in advance
• Tell a friend or partner they’re your ride
• Decide you’re staying the night at the host’s house

The key is locking in your plan before alcohol enters the picture.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Stay — Truly

One of the biggest barriers people face is simply feeling awkward asking to stay.

It feels uncomfortable to say:

• “I may have had too much to drive.”
• “Can I hang out for a few hours?”
• “Mind if I crash on the couch?”

But here’s the truth:

Try saying:

• “I want to make a smart choice. Do you mind if I stay for a bit?”

You’re not imposing. You’re being responsible.

4. Eat Before and While You Drink

Drinking on an empty stomach hits much harder and much faster.

• Eat a full meal before you arrive
• Snack while you drink
• Drink water between alcoholic beverages

This won’t make you sober, but it helps prevent accidentally drinking more than you intended.

5. Set Your Own Drink Limit (and Tell Someone)

A private limit is easy to ignore.
A stated limit helps keep you accountable.

For example:

• “I’m having two drinks tonight, then I’m done.”

If you set structure before the party, you’re less likely to slide past it in the moment.

6. Watch Out for “Holiday-Only” Drinks

This is a sneaky one.

Holiday cocktails — punch, mixed drinks, eggnog with rum, cider with whiskey — often:

• Taste sweet
• Don’t feel strong
• Are refilled without you noticing

These drinks can lead to accidentally over-pouring or losing track of how much you’ve had.

Pay attention to:

• Who’s mixing your drink
• The size of the glass
• How quickly you’re drinking

It adds up fast.

7. Remember: “I Feel Fine” Doesn’t Mean “I’m Safe to Drive”

Buzzed driving is drunk driving.


8. Hosts: Make It Easy for Guests to Stay

If you’re hosting, encourage safety:

• Offer air mattresses, blankets, couch space
• Provide water, snacks, and coffee
• Make a “keys bowl” and only return keys to sober drivers
• Normalize staying the night

Your guests will remember you for it.

9. Know When to Take Someone’s Keys

If someone is clearly impaired, say:

• “I care about you too much to let you drive.”

Be firm, calm, and non-judgmental.

10. When in Doubt — Don’t Risk It

An OWI in Indiana comes with:

• License suspension
• Jail time
• Court fines
• Criminal record
• Employment problems
• Insurance rate increases
• Probation and mandatory programs

But more importantly, drinking and driving can ruin lives - yours or someone else’s.

Stay. Call someone. Wait it out. Sleep it off.

Your future is worth 100 times more than that awkward conversation or $40 Uber ride.

Final Thoughts: Stay Safe, Stay Smart, and Enjoy the Season

The holidays should be full of joy - not legal trouble, not tragedy, and not regret.

At Baber & Baber, P.C., we want everyone in our community to celebrate responsibly, protect themselves, and make decisions that keep them safe.


📍 Baber & Baber, P.C. – Columbia City, Indiana
📞 (260) 244-4422
🌐 Schedule a consultation online by clicking here.