With Spring Break on the horizon, El Paso Community College (EPCC) is proactively encouraging students to not only have fun but also prioritize safety during the festivities, especially when it comes to alcohol consumption. Hosting a series of alcohol awareness events across its campuses, the initiative has seen collaborations with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), EPCC Student Government Association (SGA), and the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation. The campaign was set in motion today at the Valle Verde campus cafeteria, where participants were offered not just information on safe drinking practices, but also interactive activities such as games, complete with prizes to sweeten the deal.
The effort to raise awareness is an attempt to directly cut down figures of alcohol-related incidents that can mar such celebratory times. "Spring Break includes partying and fun activities and with that comes drinking, so we just want to make sure people remain safe, and to plan ahead and don't get behind the wheel after drinking," said Stephanie Carbajal-Atilano, TxDOT El Paso Traffic Safety Specialist, as per EPCC News. This message was underpinned by the fact that all incidents behind the wheel post-drinking are deemed 100% preventable.
The campaign is set to continue, with the next event scheduled for Wednesday, at the Mission del Paso campus Law Enforcement Training Academy parking lot, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Attendees can expect to learn to create tasty mocktails, a fun twist on traditional cocktails but without alcohol, as an innovative approach to engage students in a conversation about alcohol safety. Additionally, EPCC SGA is preparing to distribute goodie bags containing items like energy drinks, granola bars, and sunglasses to further entice participation.
Emphasizing the importance of wise choices during these high-risk periods, MADD Program Specialist Raquel Rodriguez shared with EPCC News, "Safety is so important and to avoid crashes. We call them crashes because they are avoidable. You have control of it, to drink and get behind the wheel." She urged students to consider alternative options such as Uber or free ride vouchers, emphasizing that responsible choices must start at an individual level to help prevent tragedies.
