Staying Safe in the Summer with Alcohol
When the summer comes and the days are long and hot, most of us just want to cool down. From hanging out at the beach or pool to enjoying ice cold beverages with friends, the dog days of summer can be brutal. That being said, it’s super easy to indulge in ice cold beer with friends and then try to drive. This is where trouble occurs.
Matthew & Jones, LLP is a DUI law firm that offers representation if you’ve been charged with a DUI in the state of Florida. With three office locations in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Niceville to choose from, we make it convenient and easy to meet with our expert DUI attorneys for a consultation. Below, we’ll offer up tips on how to stay safe around alcohol this summer. Contact our DUI team today!
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE SUMMER WITH ALCOHOL
Pay Attention to Portions
Because you are hot and thirsty, it can be super easy to consume a lot of alcohol in a very short amount of time without you realizing it. One serving is usually 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and only 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. Most beer bottles are 16 ounces, and if you drink three beers, you’re at four servings of alcohol. In addition, when you’re consuming mixed drinks, it can be just as easy to drink a lot quickly because they taste so good. The DUI lawyers at Matthews & Jones in Destin want to remind you to be mindful of your consumption of alcohol.
Understand Your Limits & Tolerance Levels
Drinking alcohol with your friends can be fun and relaxing. However, drinking alcohol everyday with your friends can lead to addiction. It’s important to be mindful of not only your portions while drinking, but also your limits. In addition, knowing your limits when you are drinking is important as well, not only to avoid alcohol poisoning, but to avoid not feeling well, having a hangover the next morning, and getting in trouble with the law. Some people become belligerent while drinking, which can lead to assault charges and other trouble with the law. It’s best to drink only moderately and infrequently.
Designated Drivers Work
Having a designated driver can make the night even more fun because you don’t have to worry about how you will get home after a night out with friends. A designated driver is someone you go out with who agrees to not drink and to drive everyone home safely. While this can be a downer for your friend, if you take turns being the designated driver, this safety precaution can save lives and save you from a DUI charge in the state of Florida. In addition, you can now take a taxi service home as well that is super easy. Thus, there really is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having had a few drinks.
Abstain From Alcohol Altogether
The safest way to drink is at your house when you don’t have to drive at all. If you are out and about, at the beach, on the boat for the day, or just out on the town, it’s best to drink non-alcoholic beverages to cool down and then after you return home to indulge in a cold beer. Drinking while swimming can be dangerous as well, as those who do drink have a greater chance of drowning (even if they are good swimmers) due to the impairment in judgement, slowed movements and what is known as caloric labyrinthitis, which is an inner ear disturbance that causes you to become disoriented and can affect your swimming abilities and sense of direction. In the end, Matthews & Jones, LLP recommends that enjoying alcohol while away from your home is just not worth the consequences.
Drink Water While Drinking Alcohol
Heat stroke is a real possibility in the state of Florida when you are out and about, soaking up the warm rays. Dehydration is often the first cause of a heat stroke. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning you urinate more while drinking. This means alcohol can dehydrate you fairly quickly. It’s best to drink water when you are drinking alcohol in order to avoid dehydration. If you are in the sun, your body will sweat more as well, further dehydrating you. Plus, when you’re hot, you drink more, so your risk of overconsuming alcohol goes up as well.
Don’t Drink & Operate a Motor Vehicle
The best advice our DUI lawyers can offer to those who are drinking during the summer months is to not drink and drive ever. It can be tempting to think that you are okay to drive after a few beers, but in reality, you are not. Florida has some of the strictest DUI laws in the nation, and the last thing you want is to be facing a DUI, DWI, DWAI (driving while ability is impaired), or a BUI (boating under the influence) charge. Your entire life could be affected if you are convicted, from facing fines and jail time to dealing with the fact you may have a felony record for the rest of your life. Plus, if you hurt someone else, the emotional toll this can take on you can be devastating. The DUI attorneys at Matthews & Jones, LLP recommend to never drink and get behind the wheel of any type of motorized vehicle.
CHOOSE MATTHEWS & JONES LLP IN DESTIN TODAY
With three convenient law offices to serve you in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Niceville, our DUI lawyers are here to help you if you are arrested for DUI in the state of Florida. We have decades of collective experience forming solid defenses against DUI for our clients. Since every DUI case and circumstances are different, it’s best to make an appointment for a consultation. Our DUI lawyers are honest, and we’ll give you a preliminary assessment of the case against you and lay out the possible outcomes for you. Should you choose to procure our DUI law services, we’ll begin forming a solid defense that will yield you the best possible outcome.
When it comes to finding a DUI attorney, you want one who has an intimate knowledge of Florida’s DUI laws, one who has experience, both in negotiations and in trials, and one who will put your needs first. Here at Matthews & Jones, LLP our DUI lawyers are kind and compassionate, understanding of your situation, and we do our best to restore your life. When you partner with us, your needs are always first, and we are always here to answer your questions. We’ll keep you updated on your DUI case and handle all of the legal proceedings so you can concentrate on getting back to your life.
Our DUI lawyers will do all of the investigations on your unique case, including following up with witnesses, obtaining police reports, and thoroughly examining your DUI arrest and the case against you. We are very honest with you, and we’ll give you an assessment of the possible outcomes of your DUI case and the likelihood of them. We want you to be prepared for what you are facing with all of the facts that we have. Our DUI attorneys ensure your case is expertly crafted for the best outcome. Call for a consultation today!
