The City of West Hollywood, its City Council, and its Public Safety Commission join with the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Fire Stations 7 and 8 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and West Hollywood Block by Block Security Ambassadors to remind community members about an important message of safety during the holidays: do not drink (or use) and drive.
There are sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about the dangers of driving under the influence (DUI). Each day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver; more than one-million drivers are arrested yearly for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics; and marijuana users are approximately 25 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use.
The City of West Hollywood has many bars, restaurants, lounges, nightclubs, and venues that serve alcohol. The City is dedicated to encouraging social responsibility and maintaining safe establishments that are free from overconsumption of alcohol. Driving under the influence is never okay and driving under the influence of cannabis carries the same DUI designation as alcohol.
The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station’s Entertainment Policing Team (EPT) is a team of Sheriff’s Deputies who are primarily focused on entertainment- and alcohol-related law enforcement issues in the City. On a nightly basis, the EPT actively patrols approximately 60 bars, nightclubs, and hotels, and liaises with management of nightlife establishments to build and maintain cooperative working relationships and to stay informed and address concerns. Together, the Sheriff’s Station and the City’s Code Compliance Division work with the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to educate businesses and work collaboratively on alcohol-related issues.
The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station has issued the following safety tips:
- Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk — or worse, the risk of having a crash while driving.
- If you will be drinking or using marijuana, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead: designate a sober driver before the party begins. A designated driver is someone who hasn’t had any alcohol or marijuana, not just the person who drank or smoked the least.
- If you have been drinking or using marijuana, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, use a ride share service or public transportation, or call one of your local sober ride home programs.
- Be responsible. If someone you know is impaired, do not let that person get behind the wheel, and do not accept a ride with an impaired person.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.
Everyone in West Hollywood can take part in working together to ensure safety. The City of West Hollywood works to raise awareness about social responsibility and alcohol with an effort called Imbibe Intelligently, which promotes safety tips and messages regarding alcohol consumption within the community and for visitors enjoying establishments in the City of West Hollywood.
Imbibe Intelligently tips are:
- Measure it: Set a limit and keep count of your drinks.
- Control it: Just like fitness, make a goal to be responsible.
- Eat it: A full stomach slows the alcohol down.
- Hydrate it: Alcohol dehydrates, quench your thirst with water.
- Pace it: Cultivate those cocktails by sipping, not gulping.
- Pause it: Take a breath and enjoy the moment.
- Switch it: For every drink, order a glass of H20.
- Reduce it: Opt for lower-alcohol alternatives.
- Table it: Avoid salty snacks that make you thirsty.
- Ride it: Set a designated driver or grab a ride share.
- Leave it: Valuables are valuable, keep them at home.
- Friend it: Buddy-up and look out for one another.
- Protect it: Always practice safe sex.
Imbibe Intelligently information and graphics can be viewed at www.weho.org/socialresponsibility. The City’s Drive Mindfully campaign also includes messages that encourage drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to look out for one another; information is available at www.weho.org/drivemindfully.
One transportation alternative for people enjoying entertainment venues in West Hollywood is The PickUp, which is a cool, convenient, and free alternative to driving. For details, please visit www.wehopickup.com. In addition, Cityline operates free evening service on Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m. to and from Hollywood and Highland where riders can connect with the Metro Red Line. For details, please visit www.weho.org/cityline.
For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s annual Don’t Drink (or Use) and Drive effort, please call the City of West Hollywood’s Public Safety Department at (323) 848-6436. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
This is nothing more than a diversion tactic by City Hall. Rather than educate the public about the random robberies in the area, let’s talk about drunk driving. It’s always easier to talk about how others can do better and ignore the failures of the City, Public Safety Department/Commission and LASD. The sheer ignorance of the Public Safety Department and Commission is perfectly exemplified by not knowing that no matter how much you ask people not to drink and drive the decision to drink and drive is made after the person is drunk and has lowered his/her ability to make… Read more »
The only deterrent is usually the law or death. WeHo residents & visitors pay no attention to these jingles. Put the money where it makes a difference……citation books.
The Imbibe Intelligently looks to be a good program,but on second reflection it appears to be geared toward West Hollywood residents only.If this program is to be effective,it needs to also be accessible to visitors who just want to have a good time. Perhaps having Imbibe program signs with its messages could be placed around the bar and having brochures that can be handed out by bartenders to curious drinkers can be arranged.Even if it is a stop and look,at least the program can get people to think about their actions with drinking.I forgot to mention this in my last… Read more »
Since the pandemic started,there has been an increase in traffic deaths and arrests for DUI. Many people were affected by the shutdowns and restrictions on meeting friends and family. The sense of loss and isolation through many months made people hopeless,so the move to drink more and use more is not surprising. The Imbibe Intelligently program is a good start to get people to pay attention to their alcohol use,but it doesn’t answer the call as how people are handling the new conditions and restrictions of the COVID crisis. Hopefully with things starting to open up,the sense of hopelessness will… Read more »
Thank you for this compassionate comment. Stigma & isolation kill.
SAMHSA’s National Substance Abuse Helpline, avail 24/7. 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, avail 24/7. 800-273-8255