NFL football season is in full swing at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The camaraderie shared at tailgating parties and inside the stadium can be electric! There’s plenty of food and the alcohol flows freely as people indulge with friends during the game.
For many, though, this spirit of the season can rapidly become clouded with poor judgment as people imbibe lots of beer and shots. That’s why football games are one of the biggest reasons for DUI arrests in Kansas City.
MADD plus the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) collaborates with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to promote the idea that football fans should have a safe way to get home if they intend to drink during the game. They recommend several ways to achieve this.
- Choose a designated driver to transport you to and from the games.
- If a friend is willing to do this, you can make their game day more enjoyable by treating them to plenty of soft drinks and snacks.
- Arrange for transportation via rideshare. This way, everyone in your party can indulge a bit and still arrive home safely.
If you are hosting a watch party at home, let your guests know that they are welcome to stay the night if they overindulge.
Police presence on game days
Kansas City’s police department heavily patrols the area on game days, when there are bound to be many intoxicated drivers. Because they anticipate that people will be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they might end up being guilty of confirmation bias. Keep in mind that it’s not always easy to tell why someone is driving erratically. It could be that the driver is experiencing a medical emergency or the vehicle is malfunctioning.
Should you be charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will need to seek assistance to fight the charges.