Editorial: Keep booze off the roads

Christmas and booze are inseparable twins, writes Mark Story.

The well wishing Merry Christmas can be read a number of ways.

For the majority, the 'merry' is most commonly associated with happiness.

Yet for Kiwis in operation during the festive season, merry's the state of intoxication between tipsy and bladdered.

Booze and Christmas are Aotearoa's inseparable twins.

Work functions, a bottle of something nice from the boss, the family fête, supermarket specials and potent bowls of fruity punch at the in-laws.

We even tacitly support Santa flying while under the influence - happily leaving a bottle of ale on the back lawn to lubricate his travels.

For the most part, and for the well-intended in moderation, it shouldn't be begrudged.

No problem with liberating the year's troubles via a bottle or two with family and friends.

No problem except when this happens prior to getting behind the wheel.

On Friday night Eastern Police ramped up their summer Road Policing campaign with an alcohol checkpoint near Pakowhai. During the 5-hour gig they checked about 3000 vehicles - of which 13 people failed.

Back in my university days, that is, the early 90s, most of us would've considered that a pass.

But given the assumed public stigma against the practice that's developed in the past two decades, Friday's hit rate is a shocker.

While the volume of booze rises dramatically this time of year - so too does the volume of traffic on the road.

These 13 idiots, who've obviously been living in caves in recent decades, shouldn't have needed a conviction to remind them that merriment has no place in motoring.