Breathalyzer Tests Offered To Thanksgiving Drinkers In Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Annapolis Police Department's Know Your Limit educational program to prevent drunk driving will offer free breathalyzer tests on Saturday, Nov. 17. This event is scheduled ahead of Thanksgiving to raise awareness regarding drunk driving.

Officers will be on foot near the Market Space from 7 to 11 p.m. to offer the tests to help drinkers gauge their sobriety, their ability to safely drive, and available alternatives in Annapolis. Police will ask passersby to participate in the program.

Volunteers will be asked if they feel safe to drive a car, then they will blow into a portable breathalyzer, and be told what their blood alcohol level register. They will also receive a card with information on alcohol consumption and options to get home safely.

The police department is teaming up for the event with the Annapolis Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Coalition to educate people about binge drinking. According to the 2016 Maryland Young Adult Survey on Alcohol, half of 18- to 25-year-olds who drink are binge drinking and don't realize it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, binge drinking is associated with unintentional injuries, violence, and chronic diseases.

Maryland law sets the legal blood alcohol content for a driver below .08 percent, but even at BACs under a .08 drivers can show signs of impairment. Police say many people might not realize how little alcohol it takes to reach a BAC of .08 percent.

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