A message to our Scallop Festival Families from Safer Coromandel

It's that time of the year again when the costumes come out and Whitianga swells with the bustle of happy Scallop Festival people. Enjoying fresh Coromandel scallops and washed down with a tipple.

"We want to remind people to Plan B4 U Party, it's simple really, says Safer Coromandel Chairman John Kelly. Plan B4 U Party, look after yourselves your friends and your families. There is too much harm today from the effects of drinking. From becoming a vulnerable victim through to receiving a serious road injury or death, wrong decisions can be made with fatal consequences."

This year Safer Coromandel recognise that along with Consent and Alcohol harm reduction water safety is an issue in the Coromandel region and we have teamed up with the Waikato Regional Council. We want to remind people that if you are taking advantage of our tides and weather, wear your life jacket. Come see their shiny new 7.5m Senator 560 boat, you might get some spot prizes. We are located opposite the entrance to Scallop Festival.

Hydratration is so important and it's so simple it comes from your tap so drink water. The Thames-Coromandel District doesn't have the same public transport options that cities have. There's little or no bus service and taxis are limited, so it’s important to make plans in advance, such as: Putting a sleeping bag in your car

• Crashing at a mate’s house
• Booking a taxi in advance or carrying some extra cash for a taxi
• Catching a courtesy cab
• Tenting on your mate’s lawn
• Taking one for the team and going sober
• Or being a legend and speaking up for your mate's life by taking the car keys off them

The legal blood alcohol limit for drivers over 20 years old has reduced from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Drivers testing positive at lower limits will receive a $200 fine and 50 demerit points, and those with higher levels will face criminal charges. Over 3 million breath tests are conducted by Police every year in NZ, that's over 8000 per day, so if you drink and drive you will get caught!

One standard drink takes at least one hour to process, and drinks actually queue in your system. So if you have consumed six alcoholic drinks it will take six hours for your body to process the alcohol and you may still be over the limit. Think about the next day after scallop festival, if you were stopped by the Police (thinking fast, how much did you consume the day before) would you get the all clear or still be over?

So what's your Plan B4 U party when you drink alcohol? It's not worth driving drunk, you could kill your passenger, write off your car, incur expensive fines, lose your licence, be disowned by your mates or lose your own life. Mr Kelly noted that “many people don't realise what a standard drink is - 330ml of beer at 4% is 1 standard drink, 100ml of wine at 13% is 1 standard drink, and RTD’s can vary significantly, for example, a 330ml RTD with 5% is 1.3 standard drinks or a 440ml RTD at 8% is 2.8 standard drinks.”

ENDS

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