Project Warns Of DUI Consequences Ahead Of Labor Day Weekend

 Posted on September 03, 2021 in DUI

Ahead of Labor Day weekend, a multinational alcohol company launched a virtual campaign to warn Californians who plan on partying over the weekend about the dangers of drinking and driving. Diageo North American partnered with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to launch the “Wrong Side of the Road.” 

Wrong Side of the Road

The educational project includes a website that hosts a series of videos in which people who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) share their experiences. Many of the individuals describe the social stigma they feel as a result of their DUI conviction.

Diageo, which owns Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness, and dozens of other beverage brands, explained they wanted to show how catastrophic it could be not just for you, but the people in your life if you decide to drink and drive. 

The company said nearly 26 percent of traffic accidents deaths in California result from impaired driving. More than one-third of all alcohol-related traffic deaths occur during Labor Day weekend. 

Industry groups are praising the effort. Chris Swonger, who leads the DC-based Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Responsibility, commented on the timeliness of the project, saying traffic deaths due to drunk driving have increased this past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained more people have driven while impaired because of factors like mental health concerns and less populated roads. 

After the Labor Day holiday, the company said they plan to roll out the project in other markets in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa over the next year. 

California DUI Penalties

In California, if you are convicted of a DUI offense, you could lose your driver’s license for six months, have to pay hundreds of dollars in fines, attend DUI school, and be required to install a breath ignition interlock device in your car. 

In addition to the criminal penalties, you could be subjected to financial burdens like higher insurance rates or loan denials. And, the penalties only get worse with additional DUIs or aggravating factors like if you are involved in an accident that caused a serious injury or death. 

Contact a San Francisco DUI Defense Attorney

The penalties for DUI can be severe, so if you have been arrested and charged with DUI or other similar offenses, you should contact an experienced California DUI defense lawyer. For 30 years, Paul Burglin has been providing legal services to the San Francisco area and he knows DUI laws in and out. In fact, he wrote the book on it. Contact him today for a free consultation by calling 415-729-7300.

Sources:

​​https://www.diageo.com/en/news-and-media/press-releases/diageo-north-america-launches-new-online-experience-and-tool-to-encourage-people-in-the-u-s-to-avoid-impaired-driving/

https://drinkdriving.drinkiq.com/