Cocktail Expressions Collection Available Online
By MADD | October 12, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Thanks to the support of Stonehenge Strategic Group, PVH and Macy’s, the Cocktail Expressions Collection is now available at Macys.com.

The Cocktail Expressions Collection is the only safe way to “tie one on” before driving.  Learn more about The Collection.

Also in Cocktail Expressions Collection news, Irwin Sternberg of Stonehenge Strategic Group, creator of the Cocktail Expressions Collection, Lisa Spicknall from MADD Maryland and Michael Mone from Harry Bachrach Inc. sat down with the hosts of CBS Baltimore’s Morning Edition “Coffee With” to talk about the Cocktail Expressions Collection. 

Click here to see another segment

Sharing Their Stories to Save Lives
By Jan Withers | October 11, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , National President , Underage Drinking

During MADD’s National Conference a couple weeks ago, I had the privilege to spend time with Leo and Janice McCarthy.  Leo has been honored as a 2012 Top 10 CNN Hero for starting Mariah's Challenge in honor of their 14-year-old daughter, Mariah, who was killed by a drunk driver as she was walking home.

I also got to see Melissa Stegner, who entered my life at MADD's Teen Influencer Summit this summer, and so eloquently spoke at our conference.   Her quiet graciousness complements her fortitude and passion in speaking out against drinking and driving, as well as underage drinking.   She describes herself as shy, but musters the strength to work at this prevention because her father and older brother were killed by a drunk driver.

I invite you to read the beautiful article, What sways teens not to drink, drive? Stories, not stats, highlighting both of these amazing individuals.

You can also click here to vote for Leo McCarthy to become the CNN Hero of the Year.

Crash Survivor Represents the US at the Paralympic Games in London
By MADD | September 13, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

In 1999, 22-year-old Kari Miller, a member of the US military, was celebrating the news that she was eligible to enroll in officer candidate school with friends, when a drunk driver hit the car she was a passenger in at 80 mph.  Kari awoke to find herself pinned inside the car with her legs crushed between the passenger-side dashboard and a telephone pole. Drifting in and out of consciousness, Paramedics worked to extract her from the car.   Kari remembers telling them, "You can cut my legs off, I'll forgive you, just get me out of here."

When she awoke in the hospital, she motioned for something to write one.  She wrote:  "I know I don't have my legs.  Don't be sad. I'll be OK.”
After she was released from the hospital Kari used a wheelchair while a prosthetics team worked to build her legs.  A friend of her family suggested that Kari try wheelchair basketball.  Kari learned a new way to continue to play her favorite sport.  She decided to try out for the U.S. Paralympic team, but with the frame of a 5’4” women, she struggled against the much taller women, and didn’t make the team.

Kari was devastated and planned to give up on athletics altogether until a friend suggested she try sitting volleyball, a sport she had never played.  Her first attempt at making the US Paralympic team she didn’t make it, but after years of hard work, she made the team and went on to win a silver medal in the 2008 Paralympics.  Kari recently represented Team USA in the 2012 Paralympic games, where they won the silver medal.  Learn more about the USA Sitting Volleyball Team.

Kari also works with the Paralympic Military Program at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where, among other things, she teaches wounded soldiers how to use sports in their recovery.

Read more of Keri’s story.

Kari is such an inspiration to so many injured victims and we are honored to have her as part of her MADD family.  MADD would like to congratulate Kari and Team USA for their success at the 2012 Paralympic games.

Going to the Game? Think before you drink! (Guest Blog)
By Guest Blogger | September 7, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

This is a guest blog post from I DRIVE SAFELY, the largest online driving school in the United States offering Online Traffic School/ Defensive Driving, Teen and Adult Drivers Ed and Insurance Reduction courses.

Fan violence, unruly behavior and drinking excessively, does that sound like our national past time?

Attending a professional sporting event has become less enticing for many. Not only is it becoming more and more expensive, but alcohol related incidents have an alarming number of people opting to stay home rather than attending games in person.

Getting Testy
During a recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota, 362 adults exiting 13 baseball games and three football games were asked to complete a survey and submit to a breathalyzer test to determine their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).This study was the first ever conducted to measure blood alcohol content immediately after professional sporting events in the United States.

Results of the BAC revealed:

• 60% of participants exiting the game had zero BAC
• 40% showed a positive BAC
• Nearly 8% were legally drunk

The study also showed that people under the age of 35 were eight times more likely to be legally drunk than other fans, and those who "tailgate" before the game were the worst offenders. Tailgaters were shown to be 14 times more likely to leave a game intoxicated.

In an anonymous survey following the breathalyzer test, one in four tailgaters admitted to consuming at least five alcoholic beverages. Those with the highest BAC range consumed an average of 6.6 drinks. The study also showed that one out of every 12 fans attending a football or baseball game will leave the stadium legally drunk. Let’s do the math. If 60,000 people show up to a football game and one out of 12 leaves drunk, that’s 5,000 intoxicated people on their way home.  The most alarming thing is a good percentage of these intoxicated fans will probably get behind the wheel and drive home.

Taking Action
In an effort to minimize alcohol related incidents many sports stadiums and arenas have set their own policies. For example at the University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Arizona Cardinals, play they strongly encourage all fans to exercise responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages.

A few of their rules include:

• Any fan that shows signs of impairment and/or intoxication will not be allowed to enter or will be removed from University of Phoenix Stadium and subject to arrest.
• Any attempt to bring alcohol inside the stadium or possession of an alcoholic beverage not purchased from the University of Phoenix Stadium concessionaire may result in ejection.
• Concessionaire staff members reserve the right to deny service to fans that show signs of impairment and/or intoxication.
• A maximum of two alcoholic beverages or 32 ounces of beer will be sold per person per transaction.
• Alcohol sales in the general seating areas of University of Phoenix Stadium will stop at the conclusion of the third quarter.

Angel Stadium of Anaheim, home of the Los Angeles Angels, takes it a step further by not even allowing people to bring alcohol into the parking lot or consume it there. They also stop the sales of alcohol inside the stadium at the conclusion of the 7th inning.

Unfortunately not all sports facilities have strict policies regarding alcohol. In an effort to make all stadiums and arenas adhere to some sort of policy, the people at TeamCoalition.org have compiled this list of the average rules that all the members of their coalition follow:

• ID policy: 30 and younger
• Maximum number of beers per purchase: 2 beers
• Maximum serving size per beer: 20 oz
• Denial of outside beverages into the facility
• Alcohol sales cut off times for pro sports:
• MLB: end of the 7th inning
• NFL: end of the 3rd quarter
• NBA end of the 3rd period
• End of the 2nd period

Relief Pitcher
In addition to these proposed guidelines TeamCoalition.org suggests that all sports facilities also incorporate some type of designated driver program. To encourage participation in the program, the designated driver could be rewarded with free concessions, VIP parking or upgraded seating when available.

In return the designated driver will sign an agreement pledging to:

• Present a valid driver’s license proving they are over 21 years of age
• Not drink alcohol while at the stadium
• Take responsibility for driving home their friends and family who have been drinking

Closing Thoughts
Clinical proof shows that alcohol related issues need to be addressed in professional sports. Although some stadiums and organizations such as TeamCoalition.org are doing their part to set policies, it’s extremely crucial for fans to police themselves. If you’re attending a professional sporting event in the future, be sure to:

• Limit your alcohol consumption
• Be sure to eat food and drink plenty of water
• Always appoint a designated driver
• Plan to use public transportation or a taxi
• Use  common sense

And always remember to Drive Safely.

Sources:
http://www.drinking-problem.com/drunk-driving/fans-leaving-sports-events-legally-drunk/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/tailgaters-drunk-sporting-events/story?id=12646946#.UCvl_KllTMg
http://www.teamcoalition.org/about/policies.asp

About I DRIVE SAFELY
Founded in 1998, IDRIVE SAFELY is the largest online driving school in the United States offering Online Traffic School/ Defensive Driving, Teen and Adult Drivers Ed and Insurance Reduction courses.  For more information, visit www.idrivesafely.com.  I DRIVE SAFELY can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/idrivesafely.  

Kicking Off Another Great Season with the NFL
By MADD | September 5, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

For the third year, MADD and the National Football League are partnering to remind fans to “play the most important position in the NFL—the designated driver!”  Through this partnership, MADD members will attend select NFL football games this fall, provide information at MADD-branded booths, as well as circulate through the parking lots promoting the message of the importance of designating a sober driver before the game begins.

We’ve added even more teams to the partnership this year. For the 2012-2013 season we’ve partnered with the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins to help keep their fans safe.

In addition to the game-day program, another of our NFL partnership initiatives is back for another year—MADD Props!  MADD and the NFL want to help prevent some of the 6,000 deaths each year caused by teen alcohol use. Teens can take a stand through the MADD’s Power of You(th) Facebook page by signing the pledge to not drink before age 21 and to never ride in a car with someone who’s been drinking. By taking the pledge, they’ll be entered to win official NFL prizes from their favorite team. Teens can also draft their friends to take the pledge for a better chance to win.

We are grateful to the NFL for partnering with MADD to help raise aweareness about the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking.