Las Vegas Metro Police worked tirelessly through the Independence Day celebrations on July 3rd and 4th to help keep motorists and pedestrians safe from impaired drivers. After setting up DUI checkpoints at two intersections in Las Vegas, a total of 30 drivers were arrested under suspicion of driving while impaired (Las Vegas Sun). Perhaps even more concerning, the Metro Police force has made 5,356 DUI arrests, that’s an 18% increase compared to last year. That is the equivalent of about 30 DUI arrests each day (Action News 13). Drunk driving is a serious problem that can harm not only the impaired driver, but also for others who share the roads; passengers, pedestrians, and innocent bystanders.

As a service professional, are you doing all you can to help your patrons get home safe? Bartenders, waiters and anyone else who serves alcoholic beverages have a legal and moral responsibility to serve alcohol responsibly, keep a close eye on their patrons, and promote an alternative means of getting home if anyone appears intoxicated. Hospitality workers should apply the techniques they learned in their TAM® course to serve alcoholic beverages safely.

Let’s all work to make the second half of 2012 safer for the Las Vegas metropolitan community.

Resources

• 30 Arrested at Sobriety Checkpoints in Las Vegas – Las Vegas Sun
• DUI Checkpoints Underway for 4th of July – Action News 13

© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada