Every 22 minutes, someone will die in an alcohol-related traffic accident. Although you probably think that it could never happen to you, experts say everyone has a 40-percent chance of being in a crash involving alcohol use sometime in their life. According to a Gallup survey funded by State Farm for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drunken driving is our No. 1 Highway Safety problem. Through education, increased law enforcement and stiffer penalties, the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents can be reduced. We can do things to prevent our friends from drinking and getting behind the wheel of a car. When you plan your next party, try some of the following tips and recipes to ensure that our loved ones are safe.

• Collect car keys from your guests.
• Always serve food with alcohol.
• Have several jiggers or self-measuring one-ounce bottle spouts at the bar to mix drinks.
• If you serve alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base such as fruit juice.
• Serve non-alcoholic beverages.
• Do not force drinks on your guests or rush to refill their glasses when empty.
• Stop serving alcohol about two hours before the party is over.
• If you observe a guest drinking too much: engage him/her in conversation to slow down the drinking.
• Offer high protein food like pizza, shrimp or spareribs.
• Offer to make the next drink, using less alcohol and mixing it with a non-carbonated base.
• If one of your guests has been drinking and shouldn't drive, please don't give them back their car keys and let them drive. They could hurt themselves or others and maybe just a little persuasion from you could mean the difference between life and death.
• Suggest that you or a sober friend drive your alcohol impaired friend home. Their car can always be picked up at another time.
• Suggest that your impaired friend stay overnight in your home. This may sound inconvenient, but you could be saving your friend's, or someone else's life. Have your friend taken home in a taxi. Pay for the ride yourself. It's hard to object to a free ride. Whatever you do, don't give in. Friends don't let friends drink and then drive. In the morning, you'll have a safer and maybe an even closer friend.