There is no better time of the year than the holiday season. From good times with friends and family to the incredible food and heartfelt gifts, there’s always something to put a smile on your face.

Adding to this, many people enjoy having a few drinks during the holidays. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it’s a big mistake to drink and drive. Not only does this increase the risk of an accident, but it could land you in hot legal water.

There are many tips you can follow to prevent drunk driving during the holidays:

• Have a designated driver: Before you pick up your first drink, make sure you have someone standing by who can drive you home. This takes all the guesswork out of the equation.
• Realize that buzzed driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving: If you’re impaired, you’re impaired. Even if your blood alcohol content (BAC) level is below the legal limit to drive, it doesn’t mean you feel well enough to do so.
• Help others: If you have no plans of drinking, do what you can to help other people avoid drunk driving. Maybe you can act as the designated driver for a group of friends. Or maybe you ask family members to stay the night if they’re going to drink.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to prevent drunk driving during the holidays.

If you take action and still run into trouble with the law, it’s time to learn more about your charges. This will help lead you toward a DUI defense strategy that could help you avoid a conviction.