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Dear Readers,

If you’re anything like us, you’re holed up watching TV commentators offer their opinions on the fate of our great nation. This has been an election of Twitter hashtags and memes, online commentary and 24 hour news. Constant campaigning has taken its toll on all us, but the internet has given us the ability–even the responsibility–to respond and to share our thoughts. More than ever in the history of our country, social media has shown us the power of an engaged citizenry. Americans have taken an active stance on everything from business to binders, healthcare to homeland security. In this age and ability of hyper-political-activism, we’d like to thank you for spending some of your activism on us.

Our cause is noble. Our cause is saving the lives of young people, of engaging a future generation of responsible citizens. Stick with us. We’re working towards a country parents can teach their young men and women about the realities of alcohol, so that these young men and women can go out into the world and make their own mark on it.

Join us, won’t you?

Choose Responsibility Blog

Later this year, Kansas will may its departure from a group of 24 states that currently prohibit happy hours. The afterwork period famous for discounted drinks was banned in Kansas 26 years ago. In the meantime, bars have found clever ways of circumventing the law, including hosting “happy days” where drinks are served at discounted prices throughout the day instead of only in the evening. Liz Goodwin writes,

[Until the law passes], clever barkeeps will continue adapting to the prohibition on temporary drink discounts by discounting their drinks all day long.

Like MLDA 21, Kansas’s ban on happy hours did not prevent bar patrons from drinking.

Findings from a Canadian study showed that discounted alcohol at happy hours did not significantly alter the amount of alcohol patrons consumed. The Alcoholic Beverage Institute believes that “an outright ban of happy hours is an overreach: in efforts to encourage moderate, responsible drinking. There is also hope that altering this law will prevent Kansas residents from driving to Missouri, where laws are far less strict.

Choose Responsibility Blog

The July 4th holiday is full of fun with family, friends, and celebrations. With all the festivities surrounding the weekend, The Century Council wants to remind drivers to be safe this weekend and to not drive drunk. The Century Council has a unique animated card which reminds individuals to make the wise choice, which is to stay safe and not to drive drunk this holiday weekend. Share the July 4th video, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

“Everyone has a role to play in fighting drunk driving; especially during high-risk periods, such as holidays. Federal, state, and local governments, as well as the general public, need to support efforts to educate citizens of the dangers associated with drunk drivers. Take action andspread the message to not drive drunk this holiday weekend,” said Ralph Blackman, President and CEO of The Century Council.

Century Council Blog

St. Patrick’s Day – a day to celebrate The Irish victory over snakes, to wear more green than usual, perhaps to try soda bread. And yes, perhaps a visit to an Irish bar if you’re of age.

But one thing today isn’t for is drunk driving. Luck favors preparation, so either prepare ahead of time to take a taxi or public transportation home, buddy up with a friend who won’t be consuming, or don’t plan on consuming at all.

Also, if you’re in the Washington, DC metro area – the SoberRide program, which will be offering free cab rides from 4:00 pm, Thursday, March 17 to 4:00 am, Friday, March 18, 2011. It’s a fantastic program for Washingtonians, and one we’re very happy to support.

Century Council Blog

With all the loss in the world, we get desensitized to hurt. I think we are all guilty of reading about a horrible car crash or murder or natural disaster and thinking, “Gee, that is so sad.” But by later in the day, we’ve moved on and don’t even think about the repercussions following those tragedies, unless they happen to us directly.

Today, lovers all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day. For many of those we serve, this will be the first Valentine’s Day without their beloved. It will be a day of pain…a day of remembering…a day we wish would hurry up and disappear. Those “firsts” that you have to go through (not, ignore)are very difficult and seem like fuel is being added to the fire for many.

Others are enjoying the day and planning for ways to honor their someone special while you may be pulling the covers over your head as you cry your eyes out. That is OK. That is normal. Grief is a process…a long and difficult journey to go through.

So my wish for you on this day of love, is that you know that you are loved. Even if you feel completely alone and ache for your loved one, you are thought about by those of us at MADD. You are thought about by one who has walked in your shoes…me.

Blog to Eliminate Drunk Driving

Well here we are on New Year’s Eve and there is a lot of talk about parties and celebrating tonight. While you’re planning your celebrations, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Law enforcement officers all over the U.S. will be out in force watching for impaired drivers and taking a bunch of them to jail. You’ve probably seen the DOT commercials for “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” Thank a law enforcement officer if you see one while you are out tonight. They give up a lot to work these holidays!

As we all know, New Year’s Eve can be one of the most dangerous nights of the year because of drunk and impaired driving. But it doesn’t have to be!

Simply by planning to use a taxi, a sober, designated driver or just staying home to party, you can lower your risks. Of course, we have to be watching out on the roads for those crossing our paths who didn’t make safe plans to get home and being alert to making moves to get out of their way.

MADD wants everyone to have fun tonight and you can do that safely. Always drive sober and buckled up.

And about those resolutions…

I’ve got some of my own that include the usual “eating right and exercising,” as well as re-reading some literature classics in 2011. What about you? Do you want to help out in eliminating drunk driving in your community or state? Check out www.madd.org and find your local chapter. We need not only volunteers, but donors to help us do our lifesaving work. Please consider a year end gift to MADD.

Together, we are getting closer to the day when there is no more drunk driving. Let’s hope 2011 brings us great strides in reaching that goal. Happy New Year!

Blog to Eliminate Drunk Driving

As the holidays loom, we here at The Century Council want to remind you to be careful this holiday season.

We know that there are many temptations – holiday parties, new years’ celebrations, and long evenings with family and friends. But it’s important to remember that driving while intoxicated can have dire consequences.

Thankfully, it’s also very easy to avoid. It’s easy to plan ahead – by curbing one’s alcohol consumption, making plans with a friend, or writing down the number of a taxi service. There are also a number of free taxi services this holiday season that you could use. The Century Council is a sponsor of one of them, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s Sober Ride program, which offers free taxi rides around major holidays in the Washington DC metro area.

Even if you’re not driving this holiday season, we still urge you to be moderate in your consumption of alcohol. Make sure your holidays are as safe and happy as they can be.

Century Council Blog

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rather than distract from dreams of turkey and sweet potato casserole, we just want to quickly remind you to be safe this Thanksgiving.

If you and your loved ones have had a few drinks as your Thanksgiving lumbers to a close, make sure that everybody has a safe way to get home, be it a taxi, a sober friend, or public transportation.

We have so much to be thankful for. Let’s keep it that way.

Century Council Blog