North Carolina Launches Annual 'Booze It & Lose It' Campaign Ahead of Labor Day
The North Carolina Department of Transportation launched its annual “Booze It & Lose It” safety campaign ahead of Labor Day weekend to warn against drunk driving.
Members of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) gathered with other state and local officials in Charlotte on Aug. 20 to announce the campaign.
“In addition to enforcement, good engineering, and strong public outreach efforts, we need a commitment from all of our motoring public to be safe on the roads,” North Carolina Board of Transportation Chairman Tony Lathrop said. “It cannot be said enough: don’t speed, avoid distractions, always wear your seat belt and never drink and drive.”
The statewide enforcement initiative uses increased outreach and enforcement to keep impaired motorists off the streets during one of the busiest — and most dangerous — travel times of the year.
During the 2024 “Booze It & Lost It” campaign, North Carolina had 444 alcohol-related car crashes. Eleven of these incidents resulted in deaths. Since North Carolina’s program was introduced in 1994, over 9,000 people have died in alcohol-related crashes.
“While Labor Day is a popular time for final summer getaways, it is also a very dangerous time to be on the roads,” GHSP Director Mark Ezzell said. “It marks the conclusion of the '100 Deadliest Days,' which is the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day where we see a spike in teen-related crash fatalities.”
The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7. It includes statewide checkpoints and increased law enforcement patrols over the two-week period.
Rico Stephens, public information officer for the North Carolina Highway Patrol, told WITN that the agency will target impaired drivers, distracted motorists and seatbelt violations.
“We are looking to remove impaired drivers off of our highway,” Stephens said. “Either that can be drugs or alcohol. We will be out patrolling and looking for you and if we find you, we are going to take you to jail to make things safer.”
North Carolina drivers caught behind the wheel while under the influence can face jail time, loss of driving privileges and an average of $10,000 in fines, towing fees and other associated expenses.