North Carolina Launches 'Booze It & Lose It' Campaign to Combat Drunk Driving Over Labor Day
On Aug. 25, 2025, officials from the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program stood alongside law enforcement in Charlotte to kick off the statewide “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. The annual effort coincides with the Labor Day holiday and aims to keep impaired drivers off the road during one of the most dangerous travel periods of the year. The program runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 7 and includes sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and a public-awareness campaign that urges motorists to plan a sober ride.
The campaign highlights that the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” because travel increases and crashes involving drunk, distracted or aggressive driving spike. Officials noted that during last year’s Labor Day enforcement window there were 444 alcohol-related crashes and 11 lives lost on North Carolina roads. Tragically, the state has already recorded more than 220 deaths due to impaired driving this year, underscoring the ongoing need for enforcement and education. GHSP Director Mark Ezzell reminded drivers that when they choose to drink and drive they put everyone at risk. “There is no excuse to drive impaired. Make a plan before you celebrate,” he said, urging people to arrange a designated driver, call a ride share or stay where they are if they’ve been drinking.
During the kickoff event, N.C. Board of Transportation Chairman Tony Lathrop noted that the campaign is part of the state’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate roadway fatalities. In addition to cracking down on impaired drivers, officers will be watching for excessive speed, seat belt violations and distracted driving. “We want everyone to get to their destination safely, so slow down, put the phone away, wear your seat belt and never drive drunk,” Lathrop said. The GHSP will use social media, radio spots and digital billboards to spread that message statewide.
The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign has been part of North Carolina’s highway safety strategy since the early 1990s and has helped reduce fatalities associated with impaired driving. This year’s enforcement period is supported by federal safety grants and involves local police departments, sheriffs’ offices and the State Highway Patrol. Drivers who are stopped at checkpoints and found to be under the influence face immediate arrest, license suspension and fines. State officials hope that by combining high-visibility enforcement with public outreach they can prevent tragedies during the holiday weekend. North Carolina motorists are reminded that the safest option is to never get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.