Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 28, 2022 - JANUARY 3, 2023 UCW 13 COVER New Year's Eve is one of the most festive nights of the year. Despite its reputation for revelry, New Year's Eve also can be danger- ous, which underscores the need to celebrate responsibly when ringing in a new year. American Addiction Centers surveyed 1,000 Americans regarding their alcohol consump- tion habits on certain holidays. e survey found that the average person consumes 4.4 alcoholic drinks on New Year's Eve, mak- ing the holiday second only to Mardi Gras in terms of drinks consumed. Alcohol lowers individuals' inhibitions and adversely affects their judgment, which could make them vulnerable to criminals and more likely to make bad decisions, including driving after a few drinks. In fact, the National Safety Council estimates that 427 people may die on U.S. roads during the 2022 New Year's holiday period. A new year is worthy of celebration, and the festivities can be even more enjoyable when individuals take these safety tips to heart. •Recognize the risks. Recognition of the po- tentially serious threats that can be lurking on New Year's Eve is vital to celebrating safely. A 2011 report from the Bureau of Crime Statis- tics and Research in the United States noted a significant spike in the rate of assaults, mur- ders, sexual assaults and robberies on New Year's Eve, linking that increase to higher levels of alcohol consump- tion. Individuals who recognize how vulnerable overconsumption of alcohol can make them may be less inclined to overdo it this year. •Avoid the roads. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that 68% of drunk driving traffic fatali- ties on New Year's 2016 involved drivers with a high blood alcohol concentration. One of the safest things individuals can do on New Year's Eve is to avoid the roads. Consider celebrating at home or staying in a hotel or the home of a loved one. If you must be on the road, call a cab or book an Uber when you need to get to and from a party. •Be careful even if you're host- ing. New Year's Eve celebrants also must be vigilant if they're hosting a gathering at home. Laws vary, but social host liability laws generally hold hosts who serve alcohol responsible for the actions of their guests after they leave their homes. So hosts could conceivably be vulnerable to criminal or civil proceedings if they serve al- cohol to guests who are then involved in traffic accidents or other incidents after they leave hosts' homes. New Year's Eve is a time for celebration. Tak- ing steps to ensure celebrations are safe can make the night even more fun. Estimates vary depending on the year and scope of the study, but research into New Year's resolutions has generally found that fewer than 10% of people who make resolutions each year stay the course until they've accom- plished their goal. In fact, a 2020 poll conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Crispy Green found that the aver- age person has abandoned his or her resolution by February 1. No two people are the same, but resolutions could fall victim to various pitfalls that can affect any- one. Recognition of these pitfalls when making a resolution may improve your chances of being successful in the year ahead. Lack of specificity: When mak- ing a resolution, be as specific as possible. If you want to read more, resolve to read two books per month (or however many books you feel you can reasonably read in a month). If you want to lose weight, speak to your physician to help you set a specific weight loss goal you can meet without com- promising your overall health. No measuring stick to track progress: Specificity is impor- tant, but it's not the only tool you can use to stay the course with a resolution. Maintain a resolution journal or blog that allows you to gauge your performance. is can help you engage more fully in your resolution efforts, providing an outlet you can use to explore your successess and failures. e more engaged you are in your resolution efforts, the more likely those efforts will prove suc- cessful. Going it alone: e buddy sys- tem works when pursuing various goals, and New Year's resolutions are no exception. A friend or fam- ily member along for the resolu- tion journey can make it easier to maintain your motivation. For example, anyone who wants to read more can join a book club, which can provide the motivation to finish books or excerpts before a weekly discussion. Biting off more than you can chew: Small resolutions may not seem like much, but minor efforts can serve as the stepping stones to realizing larger goals. If your goals are too ambitious at the outset, you're more likely to give up at the first setback. Not anticipating setbacks: Set- backs will happen, and as noted, it's easy to let them derail your ef- forts when they first appear. Rec- ognize that there will be bumps in the road but that these bumps should in no way end your jour- ney. Take setbacks as the valuable lessons that they can be, and use them as an opportunity to exam- ine what you did that didn't work and what you can do to avoid future setbacks. Tips for a safe New Year's Eve a STAFF REPORT Pitfalls to avoid when making resolutions this year a STAFF REPORT A new year is worthy of celebration, and the festivities can be even more enjoyable when individuals take safety to heart. Recognition of these pitfalls when making a resolution may improve your chances of being success- ful in the year ahead.