We are officially in the midst of the holiday season, which means before long we will be with family and friends celebrating in our own special ways.

Along with the holidays comes parties, for some of us, many parties.

And at a lot of these events alcohol will be offered and consumed.

But be careful. The mixing of alcohol and driving a car can lead to some very terrible consequences.

While you may not be involved in an accident, and we hope you are not, you could lose your license and pay some pretty hefty fines and lawyer fees after you sober up.

So, if you are going to go to a party this holiday season, make sure you drink responsibly. Have a designated driver, somebody who will drink only non-alcoholic beverages and who can drive you and your other friends home.

If you are the one throwing the gala, monitor the consumption of alcohol.

Don’t let your guests drink too much and then try to drive away.

Take their keys away from them if you have to. Offer them a place to sleep it off in your home.

Call a taxi to take them home. They can return the next day for their car.

If employers choose to provide alcoholic beverages at their holiday party, they should consult and address state laws and resulting legal responsibilities. They may be surprised about the level of culpability they have in these situations.

Let’s all make an effort to have a safe Christmas and New Year and not become a highway statistic.