(MSC News)--Ringing in the New Year means for many a chance to celebrate, and those celebrations are often accompanied by alcoholic drinks.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, citing statistics from the 2016-2017 New Year's reporting period, half of the fatality crashes reported in Kansas were alcohol related.

Those same statistics also show that one in five injury crashes also involved alcohol.

Due to those factors, AAA Kansas is warning of the dangers of drunk and buzzed driving.

The organization is urging acting, and responsibility, to prevent tragedy during the holiday.

Party hosts are encourage to provide a variety of non-alcoholic beverages to encourage safe travel, while party goers are reminded to select a designated driver.

Collecting keys from guests who plan to drink alcohol is another option, and serving high protein foods, such as meats and cheeses, is also encourged.

A press release from AAA also encourages party-goers to carpool together, or have alternate travel arrangements set in advance.

AAA sends the reminder that it takes one hour for the body to process the average drink, saying 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 1.5 ounces of liquor all contain about the same amount of alcohol.

Tips for Party Hosts

AAA Kansas’ provides the following ABC’s of party hosting to make drunk driving less likely:

A - Alcohol Awareness

Ask your guests to choose a designated driver for the evening. Have a car key collection when your guests arrive. Mix drinks yourself and avoid open bars. Stop serving alcohol 90 minutes before the party is over.

B - Buffet

Always serve high protein foods such as meats and cheeses. They stay in the stomach longer and slow down the rate of intoxication. Starchy foods are great too. Minimize salt. Salt makes people thirsty and speeds up intoxication. Always provide non-alcoholic drinks; soft drinks, juices, punch and delight everyone with the delicious mocktails. Culinary students from Washburn Institute of Technology recently created these mocktails during a competition hosted by AAAKansas and Washburn Tech. The top three winning “counterfeit cocktail” recipes include Creamy Pumpkin Pie, Wishy Washy and Blueberry-Mint Sparkler.

See the AAA Kansas Mocktails brochure, including the mocktail recipes by visiting here.

C - Carpool

Remember: only TIME will make your guests sober. It takes one hour for the body to process the average drink. 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 1.5 ounces of liquor contain about the same amount of alcohol. Keep watch on behavior. Arrange a cab or ride share service (such as Lyft or Uber), ride with a designated driver, or invite intoxicated friends to sleep over. For irate guests, “hide” their keys until they have found another ride home.

Tips for New Year’s Revelers

Preventing drinking and driving is a shared responsibility to save lives. New Year’s Eve party-goers can do their part by heeding the following advice:

• Always plan ahead to designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins

• Never get behind the wheel of a car when you’ve been drinking alcohol – even after just one drink

• Never ride as a passenger in a car driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol – even after just one drink

• Do not hesitate to take the keys from friends or family members who may be impaired

• Call a taxi or arrange a Lyft or Uber ride for a friend in need

• If you encounter an impaired driver on the road, keep a safe distance and ask a passenger to call 911 (or pull over so a safe location to make the call yourself)

• Remember: Prescription, over-the-counter medications and illegal drugs also can impair your ability to drive safely.