At least seven DWI arrests over holiday weekend in Boone County

During the holiday weekend, there were at least seven people arrested for DWIs in Boone County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop F arrested at least seven people for DWIs since Dec. 22.

SGT. Scott White, with Troop F, said people tend to stay off the road during winter weather, which leads to less DWIs. He said that is why there were less DWI arrests during the weekend of Dec. 16.

Doctors at the University of Missouri are bringing awareness to the side effects of binge drinking. They said during the holidays, people might not realize they are binge drinking if others around them are drinking the same amount.

Dr. Shivendra Shukla, Margaret P. Mulligan Distinguished Professor in medical research at MU, said five beers in two to three hours is binge drinking for a male, and four beers in two to three hours is binge drinking for a female.

Shukla said people don’t realize how dangerous binge drinking is. He said people may not have to go to the hospital after the first or second time of binge drinking, but it destroys the body slowly.

Shukla said responsible drinking and making people aware are the solutions to help stop people from binge drinking.

The city of Columbia’s Substance Abuse Advisory Commission has been discussing an ordinance that they think would help decrease binge drinking in downtown bars.

The ordinance would get rid of what the commission calls “dangerous” drink specials like “all you can drink.”