April is Alcohol Awareness Month

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

MADISON — The month of April is an important time to reflect on responsible alcohol consumption and the dangers of intoxication.

Capt. John Stinger with the Madison Police Department said that the force upholds a strong position on drinking responsibly and has zero tolerance when it comes to drinking and driving.

“It is a very basic principal and that is if you are going to be out and consume alcohol, be responsible,” he said. “Becoming intoxicated in public and especially behind the wheel puts your life in danger and the ones of those around you.”

Stringer said Madison Police have done a great job at preventing and handling alcohol related disturbances.

“Weekends and in the early morning hours we see those type of arrests,” Stringer said. “If a person gets to the point where they draw attention to themselves, our officers will enforce those rules immediately. Our second and third shift officers do a fantastic jobs.”

According to the Century Council, more than three people per 100,000 Americans were killed in 2010 in drunk driving fatalities.

“You just can’t do it period,” Stringer said. “It causes injuries and most importantly, it costs lives and those are what we are here to protect.”