As an attorney in St. Louis practicing in the fields of auto accidents, personal injury, and product liability, I’ve seen many incidents involving alcohol that don’t end well for the victim. Where vehicles are related, I must encourage you not to drink and drive; consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel puts you, your passengers, and all others on the road at risk.
An interesting article from The New York Times highlights which beers were involved in the most emergency room visits.
Nationwide, a third of all emergency room visits for injuries are related to alcohol. A study by John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore found that people with these injuries consumed five beer brands most often. These beers are:
- Budweiser
- Steel Reserve
- Colt 45
- Bud Ice
- Bud Light
Three of these beers are malt liquors, typically containing a higher alcohol concentration than normal beer. Four malt liquors accounted for almost half of the beer consumption by emergency room patients, even though they account for only three percent of beer consumption in the U.S.
Alcohol frequently plays a role in injuries and deaths caused by car accidents, falls, homicides, and drownings.
The study is particular to Baltimore, and consumption levels may vary in different cities; however, I feel it still gives a good representation of how alcohol influences risky behavior.
Please drink responsibly, and don’t ever get behind the wheel if you’ve had too much.