Plan Ahead for the Big Game 🏈
Are you ready for some football?
In a time of uncertainty, a little bit of normalcy is something we are all craving right now. With many sports events being canceled over the past year, it’s exciting to look forward to this weekend’s big game!
Whether you plan to gather in a small group, hang out at home, watch the game solo, just enjoy the food, or do something completely different because football isn’t your thing, we want to make sure you’re prepared for a safe, responsible weekend.
At Responsibility.org, we take pride in the work we have done and continue to do to encourage both safety and responsibility.
🏈 Parents, we want you to talk to your kids about alcohol and why they should say “NO” to underage drinking.
🏈 If you are going out to watch the game, we want you to do so in accordance with public safety guidelines, and if you or your friends decide to drink alcohol, be sure to plan for a safe ride home before you leave for the evening’s festivities. Check out our Virtual Bar app to learn more about how alcohol affects your blood alcohol content (BAC).
🏈 Be sure to drink water or nonalcoholic beverages and eat some food in addition to enjoying your favorite cocktail or alcoholic beverage. And if you are hosting, be sure you make these items available to guests.
We asked a few friends and colleagues how they plan to watch the big game this weekend, and how they are going to prepare their “Home Team” to make good decisions and maximize fun.
My family lives in Atlanta, and we have been sticking really close to home during the pandemic. This weekend will be the same, so we plan to watch the big game from home with plenty of food and some drinks too! Because my son is getting to be a teenager, we talk about avoiding alcohol and all risky behaviors. We practice ways that he can say NO if he feels pressured and how he can call on his dad and me at any time if he or a friend needs help. We don’t drink a lot at home, but I know if he is seeing it—and we all know our kids are seeing it!—it’s time to talk about it.
Anytime there is a big event, traffic safety officials know there will be an increase in impaired driving and have extra patrols scheduled to keep the roads safe. Add in winter weather conditions, and things can get even more treacherous. With the pandemic still looming, people are wary about using public transportation or mass transit, but still, there is no excuse to drive drunk or impaired by drugs. Plan a safe way to get home before you leave your home. Designate a sober driver, consider ridesharing options available in your area, call a cab, or call a sober friend! You might also consider staying home and watching the big game in your PJs while you Zoom with friends.
I know my team -- America’s Team! -- isn’t playing in the big game this weekend (and haven’t since 1996 ☹), but I’ll still be watching, and I’ll be longing for the day I can be there in person cheering my Cowboys on with thousands of other fans. But this is not the year. Not for the Cowboys, not for the big crowds, and certainly not the year to be making irresponsible decisions. If you choose to drink this weekend, please drink responsibly. If you’re ordering cocktails, remember to always order food, too, and eat before drinking – and, if you can, order from a local restaurant to support them during these difficult times. Laugh at the commercials with your friends and family. Hopefully next year the thunderous crowds will be back, but in the meantime, we owe it to ourselves and those around us to act responsibly.
From all of us at Responsibility.org to all of you—have a great and responsible weekend!
