The spirit of the season takes on a whole different meaning for some people. It is not just about being happy and spending time with friends and family.
For some people the spirit of the season comes in a glass, can, bottle, or even a red solo cup.
There is nothing wrong with people gathering to have a drink or two, or even a few more, with their friends and family during the holidays.
To say an alcoholic beverage had never touched my lips would be a horrible lie. But all too often people make stupid and tragic decisions that lead to, not only the season being ruined, but also many lives as well.
Once again this year the word has to be spread that drinking and driving is without a doubt one of the most ridiculous things people do. There is no excuse for doing it.
For years, the importance of not getting behind the wheel and turning your vehicle into an accident waiting to happen, has been stressed on every form of media and social media imaginable.
As a child watching television I remember seeing commercials with squealing tires and a voice telling me not to drink and drive.
But sadly there are still people who jump in their cars after a night on the town and think they can make it home.
These people are playing Russian roulette with lives.
We are lucky in Golden that many people in town live within walking distance of a pub or a friend’s house, so walking home, preferably not hooting too loud, is not that difficult, even in winter.
But even if you are not within walking distance, planning ahead can keep you out of the hospital, jail or a cemetery.
If you are at a house party and have a few drinks too many then just find a couch and take a nap.
An even better idea is to make sure you have a designated driver so people who must get home can do so safely. Sure, shuttling your friends and co-workers home in a jollier-than-normal state may not seem like fun.
But, it is nice to be the one person who remembers the whole night, and can then remind them the next day that they really were not dancing Gangnam Style nearly as well as they thought they were.
Another way to get home is by taxi. Some people have told me this can be a challenge in Golden due to the limited numbers of cabs available on busier nights.
If you know it is going to take two hours for a taxi to show up, then call two hours before you want to leave. Once again not being able to get a taxi is not an excuse to hop in your car drive home drunk.
I hope this Christmas season I do not have to write about people losing their cars in police stops, or even worse, having to tell the tale of a tragic accident because one bad decision was made.
I hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable Christmas season where people make the right choices.
It may be a nuisance getting home in a taxi, walking, or volunteering to stay sober during some fun loving Christmas bash.
However, the other option is one where lives are destroyed on a tragic basis.
