More than 30 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, but as they say, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. According to Wallet Hub, 57% of Americans reported plans to celebrate the holiday in 2020, and businesses stand to benefit greatly again this year. The average partier will spend $43 on their celebrations, totaling more than $6 billion in revenue. When celebrated responsibly, St. Patrick’s Day can be a fun way to let loose, wear green, and have a couple of drinks. But unfortunately, it’s not all fun and games. Beer sales jump 174%, liquor sales rise 153%, and 32% of men report binge-drinking. Revelers imbibe an average of 4.2 drinks apiece, which will get any drinker well over the legal intoxication limit. Since St. Patrick’s Day is the third most alcohol-soaked holiday of the year (beaten only by Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve), it should come as no surprise that driving conditions can be dangerous. Of all fatal car crashes on St. Patrick’s Day, a whopping 62% involved a drunk driver. In 2018, 73 people lost their lives as a result. No one wants a festive celebration to turn tragic, so if you’re partaking this year, come prepared with a plan. Most people don’t deliberately set out to drive drunk. Instead, they somehow lose track of how many drinks they’ve had or down a couple more than intended. They then assure themselves they’re up to the task of getting home by themselves. We make bad decisions when we’re intoxicated — this one is common, and, too often, it’s deadly. Drive Sober This St. Paddy’s Day DON’T PUSH YOUR LUCK
Your plan may involve a trusted designated driver responsible for getting everyone home safe at the end of the night. Or better yet, take a rideshare or taxi to your destination and back. That way, there will be no temptation to get behind the wheel, no matter how cloudy your judgment has turned. Of course, you can also choose to observe the holiday at home or stick to corned beef and cabbage instead of beer. No matter how you choose to celebrate, remember to put the safety of yourself and those around you first. St. Patrick’s Day should be a time for joy, not sorrow. Get out there and have a good time but make sure to do so responsibly.
PUZZLE
Easy March Madness Chili
Cheer on your favorite team and chow down in minutes with this easy chili recipe!
Ingredients
• 2 lbs ground beef • 2 tbsp chili powder • 1 tbsp Creole seasoning
• 1 tsp ground cumin • 2 16-oz cans diced tomatoes • 2 16-oz cans small red beans • 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
Directions
1. In a deep pot, brown the beef, stirring often. 2. Once beef is cooked, add chili powder, Creole seasoning, and cumin, cooking for 1 minute. 3. Stir in diced tomatoes, beans, and tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. After the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and let chili simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Serve with toppings of choice, like cheese, sour cream, or chives.
Inspired by MyRecipes.com
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
| 3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator