COLUMBUS, Ohio (ADAMS) – This week, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will be taking place throughout Ohio. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is urging those who are planning on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day to designate a sober driver. The Patrol and local law enforcement say they will work together to remove impaired drivers from the roadways as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign.
During the last five years, there were a total of 14 people killed in 11 fatal crashes. Of those fatal crashes, five were a result of impaired driving, resulting in eight deaths. Additionally, 137 people were injured on St. Patrick’s Day due to OVI-related crashes. The Patrol made 627 OVI arrests on St. Patrick’s Day from 2017 to 2021.
“We want all motorists to plan ahead before they start celebrating, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent. “St. Patrick’s Day is synonymous with consumption of alcohol, which makes impaired driving enforcement during the holiday a priority for our troopers so that everyone remains safe.”
In the last five years, impaired driving accounted for 252 crashes on St. Patrick’s Day.
As always, motorists are encouraged to dial #677 to report drug activity or impaired drivers.
Also, as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) and officials with the Ohio Division of Liquor Control (DOLC) want to make sure this is a safe holiday.
“Patron safety should always be the top priority of any liquor permit premise,” said OIU Enforcement Commander Eric Wolf. “Patron safety starts with vigilant staff.”
Liquor permit establishments should ensure:
Staff is properly checking identifications to verify the customers are 21 or older, not just at the door, but at the point of sale;
Intoxicated patrons are not served;
Staff watch for anyone attempting to tamper with drinks; and
Staff and patrons are not bringing illegal drugs into their establishments or adjacent sidewalks and parking lots.
“St. Patrick’s Day makes for a very busy time for liquor permit establishments,” said Jim Canepa, DOLC Superintendent. “Selling liquor responsibly is of the utmost importance, and we know liquor permit holders and staff take their responsibility seriously to follow the law to keep their customers safe.”
Keeping patrons safe and ensuring they are not overserved should not stop at St. Patrick’s Day. College basketball fans will be crowding Ohio sports bars to watch hours of tournament action.
In addition, Ohioans are encouraged to come up with a game plan for a successful night out to their favorite bars and restaurants. The Ohio Division of Liquor Control encourages everyone to:
Drink plenty of water and eat food before a night out that involves drinking
Use a designated driver, public transportation, taxi or a ride-share service to get home safely.
In the case that an individual has been overserved, the ODLC suggests bar staff ask themselves these questions before taking an order for the next drink:
Is the individual able to stand and carry on a conversation without slurring words?
Has the person ordered or been served multiple drinks within a small amount of time?
Has the person become irritable and begun causing problems?
Is the person having difficulty drinking beverages, resulting in spillage?
The ODLC says that Liquor permit holders or staff who want to make sure they are educated on the most up-to-date rules and regulations on the sale and handling of alcohol should take OIU’s Alcohol Server Knowledge (ASK) program. The ASK program is available in person and online. Both are free for all participants. The online class can be found here.
