Happy 21st birthday to you! Today marks one of the biggest milestones of your adult life and you are now legally of age to drink alcohol. Since you have been told about the dangers of drinking and driving for years, you must be aware that you are going to need a designated driver or other safe way home if you’re celebrating your 21st birthday at a bar. But, you’re new to this and you may not know that once the alcohol starts flowing, your designated driver may be just as intoxicated as you are… and that’s no way to get back home.
It is estimated that 40% of designated drivers still drink alcohol when they’re supposed to remain sober. This puts you both at risk, as well as other drivers on the road, plus a drunk driving conviction can result in fines, court costs, a car breathalyzer or ignition interlock requirement and more. That is no way to remember your 21st birthday, so, why not plan an old fashioned sleepover party and celebrate safely?
While a throwback to the childhood you are probably eager to leave behind, a sleepover party allows you and all of your guests to drink without worrying about who is sober enough to drive home. You and your friends can find comfort in pajamas and pillows, and in knowing that nobody will be leaving the party too drunk to drive. You’ll save money by providing your own alcohol, you get to choose the music and the lines for the bathroom will be much shorter. When you’re hungry, you don’t have to flag down a server or attempt to navigate a drive-thru on your way home; you have food in your kitchen or just a delivery driver away.
Turning 21 is an exciting time in anyone’s life, and there is no reason to start off the next steps of your adult life with any worry about the sobriety of your designated driver or any friends who may be driving home. Celebrate responsibly and you can keep the party going for many years to come, safely and soberly.
