Celebrate responsibly this holiday season
COSHOCTON – No one thinks their holiday celebration will end in tragedy, but unfortunately December is one of the most notorious months for arrests, accidents and deaths involving alcohol because of an increase in the number of parties, social gatherings and other holiday celebrations.
According to Lt. Matt Boyd from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Zanesville Post, in 2013 there were two crashes with two people killed in Coshocton County and in 2014 there have been seven crashes with seven people killed. There were no impairments in the 2013 crashes, but one of the seven killed this year involved an impaired driver.
The Coshocton County Safe Communities Coalition’s hope for the season is that everyone celebrates responsibly by planning ahead of time how they will get home safely if they drink. The group’s advice to the public is to make sure a designated driver is selected before the celebrations begin.
“Always have a plan in place to get home safely – call a cab or a sober family member or friend to pick you up,” said Christy Mosier, Safe Communities Coordinator.
She provided information for the following local cab companies to help make that easier. If you don’t have a designated driver call one of these companies to help you get home safely: Bob’s Taxi, 654 Orange St., 202-0171, available 24 hours; Shelly’s Taxi, 1715 S. Lawn Ave., 622-4203, 622-0000 or 202-2960, available 24 hours; Wright Away Taxi, 610-3915.
“We want people to have responsible fun so they can celebrate many more happy occasions in 2015,” Mosier said.
If you throw a party, try making one of these non-alcoholic drinks. Both were winners at the Coshocton County Safe Communities Coalition’s Holiday Happy Hour, which challenged teams to make fun and festive non-alcoholic drinks.
The Mele Kaliki Maka
- ½ gallon vanilla ice cream
- 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple
- 1 (8 oz) can coconut cream
- 1 (48 oz) can pineapple juice
- 1 (2 liter) lemon-lime soda
In a large container, combine ice cream, crushed pineapple, coconut cream and pineapple juice.
Mix well and slowly stir in lemon-lime soda. Freeze for four hours or until slushy.
Choco-mel Coffee Mocktail
- ¼ cup (2 oz) brewed coffee
- ¼ cup (2 oz) Bailey’s Original Irish Creamer
- ½ cup (4 oz) milk
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate and Carmel syrup
- Whipped cream
Pour coffee (make sure the coffee is cold, or throw some ice in), Bailey’s and milk into a blender and add two scoops of ice cream. Squeeze chocolate and caramel syrup in, as much as you like. Blend until smooth. Drizzle chocolate and caramel syrup on the inside of your glass, then pour the mixture in. Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate and caramel syrup.
Category: People & Places
