Call Now 202-960-4596
On March 17th, millions of people will adorn Shamrock-themed costumes and ring in St. Patrick’s Day with green beer and corned beef. Enjoy the festivities, but be mindful when engaging in revelry. For complicated psychological and cultural reasons, national holidays tend to cause celebrants to forego safety and good sense, as we reported last month in our piece, on Valentine’s Day safety tips.
Revealing St. Paddy’s Day Statistics
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), “Americans celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year will spend on average $36.52 per person on costumes, decorations [and] food.” 24 million more, meanwhile, will attend some party to celebrate the luck of the Irish.
All this partying means alcohol and lots of it. NBC News calls March 17 “one of the most alcohol-fueled days of the year.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that over 40,000 people in the U.S. die every year from binge drinking.
U.S. News puts the numbers into perspective: “A reported 13 million pints of Guinness beer will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day… St. Patrick’s Day is the fourth-most popular drinking holiday in the U.S., trailing New Year’s Eve, Christmas and Independence Day.” That’s enough beer to “fill two Olympic-size swimming pools… and still have enough left over to fill 642 4-by-5-foot hot tubs.”
The bottom line: Limit your alcohol consumption. Designate a driver or call a cab or a service like Uber or Lyft.
Decorate with Care
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that falls from ladders, fires caused by candles and cuts from the broken glass of ornaments are common, especially during holidays involving lots of drinking. A ladder should be able to hold you and the weight of the object. Never leave a candle unattended, and clean up debris immediately.
Be on the Alert for Hidden Alcohol
Traditional Irish meals are delicious, but many contain a surprising amount of alcohol mixed in for flavor. Irish Beef and Stout Stew contains one can of stout beer, for instance. Traditional Irish Cream Coffee contains a surprising amount of Irish whiskey, the intensity of which may be masked by the sweet taste.
Schedule Your Driving Time
The National Center for Statistics and Analysis reports that nighttime accidents involving alcohol are “three times higher.” Stay off the roads after midnight. And, again, make use of services like Uber to get home safely.
Watch Out When Donning Your Leprechaun and Shamrock Get Ups
An ill-fitting costume is no laughing matter. Masks impair vision and lead to auto accidents and trip and fall incidents. Keep your Irish eyes smiling by focusing on injury prevention.
Were you recently injured in a car crash? Call our Washington D.C. auto accident attorneys for a free consultation about your potential case.
