Take A Breather!

As the holiday celebration is right around the corner, I hope some of you are doing what I’m about to do today: going over and beyond the definition of extremely last-minute Christmas gift shopping.  Well, let’s face it, we all got swamped with work, stuck in the now-too-often-expected holiday traffic, and got to the mall by the time they closed shop despite the extended hours.

If ever you’re still looking for that ‘it’s the thought that count’ gift for a loved one, I’ve got the ultimate holiday gift idea: a breathalyzer.  With all the holiday celebrations you get invited to, just like the increase in cholesterol intake, there is a predicted increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

From your favourite brew to your preferred cocktail, shaken not stirred, everyone will be partaking of these merry-makers before the law to implement ‘sin’ taxes is signed.  We all know what happens to an individual once he’s had a fair amount to drink.  He becomes one of the three icons: Cassanova, Humphrey Bogart or James Dean.

Aside from causing a misguided perception of his personality, alcohol also changes one’s depth perception, alertness, perception and overall judgement.  Despite many ‘don’t drink and drive campaigns’ (ironically initiated by alcoholic beverage companies), many people still do get behind the wheel of their vehicle and drive home pretty intoxicated.  Most of them don’t make it home without a new ornament or concrete on metal signature on their vehicle.

But the real problem isn’t about the fender benders, pole-huggers, ditch divers and the like.  The problem lies in the fact that not all traffic incidents involving intoxicated people behind the steering wheel are as simple as a little dent or scratch.  Many such incidents involve injuries and even death.  And even more glaring are the ever increasing number of underage, intoxicated drivers.  Not only are they of the age where judgement is still teetering on the dictates of the hormones, they are not legally allowed to get behind the steering wheel, nor are they legally allowed to drink.

Most countries have very strict drunk driving laws.  A 0.08% BAC (blood alcohol content) limit is imposed on everyone who decides to have a shot or more of alcohol.  If your BAC level is above that and the local enforcers flag you down, you are headed for some very stiff fines.  Here in the Philippines, the fines are just as stiff (ranging from PhP 5,000.00 for the first offense for basic infractions to PhP 20,000.00 for first time offenders of who are involved in incidents resulting in physical injuries), but the implementation is terribly lax.

When was the last time you saw a sobriety checkpoint?  When was the last time you saw a bar or pub take the responsible step in getting the car keys and hailing a cab for a driver that is clearly intoxicated?  And when was the last time you or a friend had a little too much to drink and decided that DWI or driving while intoxicated isn’t the smartest way to get home?

We’d all shrug this off and say ‘this will never happen to me’. The next thing you know, you have been proven wrong and may have even taken a life in the process.  To increase your chance of proving yourself right and saving a life, grab yourself and your friend a breathalyzer.  It’s a nifty little gadget that allows you to check your BAC level.  It’s not as big as your smartphone (in fact, there are some that are the size of a keychain) and costs a mighty fraction less.

And no, that app available for your smartphone isn’t a real breathalyzer.  It may fool the daftest of traffic enforcers, but they’re not the only ones being fooled if you yourself believe in it.

As I said earlier, if you’re still scrounging for ‘that’ gift, a breathalyzer is a good idea.  And have yourself a very Merry Christmas.