It’s that time again. We’re gearing up for another holiday fueled by alcohol. March 17^th is St. Patrick’s Day, a celebration of Irish culture in a very American way. People wear green, fill local bars, and consume plenty of alcohol. Guinness and Irish Whiskey are the top choices for many March 17th partiers, which can lead to a few hard-to-solve problems. As always, never drink and drive, but here is what you should know about St. Patrick’s Day in Gainesville, Ocala, and Lake City.

A Brief History of St. Patrick’s Day

How did we get here? March 17th is the feast day of St. Patrick on the Catholic calendar, and as the patron saint of Ireland, it has become an important holiday for Irish Catholics. As Irish immigrants came to the U.S., they brought the feast day with them. Over time, it morphed into the popular and secular celebration of all things Irish. People typically wear green and celebrate with lucky charms like shamrocks. And, of course, the modern American celebration of St. Patrick’s Day involves having fun at bars all over the nation.

Local Celebrations for Staying Sober

Just because it’s common to drink on St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t mean it’s necessary. If you want to stay safe and sober, you can do plenty of family-friendly things around the area. Here are a few events in Gainesville, Ocala, and Lake City.

• St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5K in Gainesville
• St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Ocala
• Christ Church’s Destination Unknown

Resources to Stay Safe on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day this year is on a Friday, which may mean folks are even bolder in their celebrations. And celebrations are likely to roll over into the weekend. It’s essential to stay safe no matter how you celebrate. Use these tips to stay safe and out of trouble on St. Patrick’s Day this year.

• When you are sober, make a plan not to drive
• Leave your car keys at home
• Have a designated driver or call a ride-share service like Uber or Lyft
• Create an alternate plan if things don’t go like you expected
• Drink plenty of water and eat food
• Never leave your drink unattended
• Stay with friends

We always want to reinforce the message never to drink and drive. The surge pricing for St. Patrick’s Day is a small price to pay and much less expensive than fighting a DUI.

What to Do If You’ve Been in an Accident

If something does happen this St. Patrick’s Day, you will want to know your next steps. Car accidents that involve alcohol have unique aspects such as the potential for punitive damages that are designed to financially punish drunk drivers for their dangerous decision. If you’re in an accident or even if you cause an accident, talk to a lawyer right away. You can see more advice on navigating a holiday celebrated with alcohol in our New Year’s Eve post.

Call Glassman and Zissimopulos and our team of dedicated attorneys today. (352) 505-4515 or Toll-Free at (844) 787-2543. When you call, you will be able to speak with a lawyer. This is our commitment to you.