Throwing a Super Bowl Party? I.I.I. Offers Tips for Being a Responsible Host

NEW YORK, January 27, 2009 — If you’re planning to throw a Super Bowl Party on Sunday, remember that a truly gracious host not only puts out the baby-backs and beer but also makes sure the gathering includes a number of designated drivers, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

On February 1st, millions of Americans will drive to a friend or family member’s house to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. While the big game is one of the most exciting events of the football season, it is also one of the most dangerous as roads are filled with too many impaired drivers wending their way back home after the parties. Contributing to the inherent dangers of drinking and driving is the relatively late starting time of the football game (after 6 p.m., ET) and the fact that the game may go on for hours, with even West Coast party revelers returning home long after the sun has set.

According to the most recent figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 32 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities. On Super Bowl Sunday (12:01 a.m. Sunday to 5:59 a.m. Monday), 48 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher. In fact, more than 13,000 Americans died that year in crashes involving an impaired driver.

Young men—ages 21 to 34 years old—are the core audience for major sporting events such as the Super Bowl and are also the most likely to drive while intoxicated, according to NHTSA. They are also the most likely to drive fast and not wear their seat belts.

"Those throwing a party where alcohol is served have both a legal and moral responsibility to make sure that their guests are capable of driving safely,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “You don’t want to allow anyone who has been drinking to drive a vehicle or ride a motorcycle while impaired. Not only do your guests risk injury or death to themselves or others, but you may be held financially responsible.”

According to the I.I.I., thirty-two states have enacted laws, or have case law, that hold social hosts liable if they serve liquor to people who subsequently are involved in crashes that result in injury or death.

With the rise of citizen activist groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in the 1990s, society has increasingly little tolerance for drinking and driving. Existing drunk driving laws have been strengthened and penalties increased.

“Those convicted of drunk driving can also face huge increases in their auto insurance rates, which can more than double,” noted Salvatore. “Some insurers may also refuse to insure drivers with a history of impaired driving.”

Fatigue is another potential problem. NHTSA reports that drowsy drivers cause more than 100,000 crashes annually, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. Driving drowsy increases the risk of a crash or near-crash by at least a factor of four. This is not hard to imagine, considering that being sleepy can have the same effect on your alertness and performance as having too much alcohol.

“A tired driver is quite simply not a safe driver,” said Salvatore. “And with the roads being more dangerous than usual on Super Bowl Sunday, drivers need to be especially vigilant.”

If you are planning to host a party, the I.I.I. suggests the following: