The latest episode of Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services’ (ABS) “Spirited Discussions” podcast offers tips to help residents stay safe during the summer travel season by preventing impaired driving, promoting responsible alcohol use, and planning safe celebrations.
The episode, “Keeping Each Other Safe – From Prom to the Beach and the Road in Between,” features ABS Community Outreach Manager Roddy Aguirre, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, and essay contest winner Elise Bradley. Hosted by Jocelyn Rawat, the discussion explores the “100 Deadliest Days” between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when fatal crashes involving teen drivers typically increase, and discusses practical steps drivers, families, and communities can take to reduce crashes and save lives.
Topics include the dangers of impaired driving, the importance of always wearing a seat belt, obeying speed limits, and making transportation plans before consuming alcohol. Guests also discuss Maryland’s 0.08 blood alcohol concentration legal limit and the lasting impact impaired driving can have on individuals, families, and communities.
The episode also highlights how ABS works with licensed businesses to promote responsible alcohol service, prevent underage drinking, and support community safety through education, training, and compliance efforts. Bradley, a student at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School and winner of the Sober Vibes student essay contest, reads her award-winning letter encouraging classmates to avoid alcohol before, during, and after prom.
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“Of the various programs ABS offers to prevent alcohol use among people younger than 21, the student video and essay contests continue to be among the most effective,” said Aguirre. “Students are powerful messengers, and their voices resonate with their peers.”
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration promotes highway safety through driver education, outreach, and licensing programs.
The “Spirited Discussions” podcast explores beverage alcohol products, industry trends, and public safety issues affecting Montgomery County residents and businesses. Episodes are available on the ABS website and major podcast platforms, including Amazon, Apple, and Spotify.
Residents can submit ideas or questions for future episodes by emailing abs.spiriteddiscussions@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Technical support for the podcast is provided by the Office of Broadband Programs within the Montgomery County Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions.
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ABS is Montgomery County’s alcohol wholesaler for beer, wine, and spirits and operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. ABS also manages alcohol licensing, enforcement, and education for more than 1,000 businesses.
The department generates tens of millions of dollars in net income each year. Those funds help pay down County debt, with a significant portion deposited into the County’s general fund to support services that would otherwise rely on tax dollars.
Residents can follow ABS on Facebook and X.
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Read the original article at mcgov