Metroplex Mayors Join Prevention and Safety Advocates to Promote Alcohol Awareness



April 6, 2005 -- It's crucial for Texans to know how much is too much. That's why Tarrant Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tarrant County Challenge and Dallas Challenge are joining with city leaders to help prevent alcohol-related tragedies in the DFW Metroplex.

Mayor Robert Cluck of Arlington, Mayor Laura Miller of Dallas, and Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth have proclaimed April 7 as Alcohol Screening Day to help DFW area traffic safety and alcohol abuse prevention advocates raise public awareness about alcohol's often adverse impact on health and safety.

"Alcohol consumption is a common and generally accepted practice in American culture. However, chronic or occasional misuse presents a serious burden to drinkers and nondrinkers alike," said Eric Niedermayer, Tarrant Council executive director.

In 2003, 17,419 Americans were killed in alcohol related crashes, according to the NHTSA. NHTSA Regional Administrator Georgia S. Chakiris says that the most needless cause of traffic crashes in the United States and Texas is alcohol impaired driving, because it's totally avoidable.

"Here in Texas, more people are killed in alcohol-related crashes than any state in the nation," said Chakiris. "An estimated 47 percent or 1,709 of the Texans killed on our roads in 2003 occurred in alcohol-related crashes. Dallas and Tarrant counties had a total of 190 alcohol-related traffic deaths."

April 7 is National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD), a free event designed to educate the public about alcohol's influence on health. Tarrant Council will conduct free, confidential alcohol screenings at eight area locations on April 7. For a complete list of locations, visit http://www.tarrantcouncil.org.

"Although most individuals who drink do so safely, many people are unaware of the negative effects alcohol can have on health and safety. The goal of National Alcohol Screening Day is to educate the public on the potential risks associated with drinking. Through education, awareness and understanding, individuals can make informed decisions about their drinking behaviors," Niedermayer said.

For more information, visit Tarrant Council at www.tarrantcouncil.org.

Contact:
Cynthia Cuellar
(817) 332-6329, ext. 218
Or
Roxanne Martinez Rosas
(817) 332-6329, ext. 251





Metroplex Mayors Join Prevention and Safety Advocates to Promote Alcohol Awareness