As the pandemic slows down and restrictions ease, Oklahomans have begun to see family and friends, go out to restaurants and bars, and participate in activities that they have not done in over a year. This is an exciting time for many people to get back to normal. With that in mind, the Oklahoma Beer Alliance and its beer distributor members encourage all Oklahomans to embrace the new normal in moderation. April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Alliance encourages all Oklahomans to enjoy alcohol responsibly and in moderation.

“For the past 13 months, Oklahomans have been trying to keep themselves and others safe and healthy during the pandemic, which has largely meant not gathering together, not eating in restaurants and bars, and being isolated to try to slow the spread,” said Lisette Barnes, president of the Oklahoma Beer Alliance. “Now that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we, like many, feel the excitement and anticipation to get out and enjoy a beer with dinner alongside our friends, but we want to ensure everyone does this responsibly.”

Oklahomans can now head to their favorite restaurants, bars and taprooms to have their favorite draft beer, and the Alliance is recommending three steps to keep everyone safe.

Plan how to get home before you go out. Decide with friends and family ahead of time who will be the designated driver or if you will take a Lyft or Uber home from an afternoon or evening out. Download the ride sharing apps before you head out to make sure you have an easy way to get a ride home. By doing this ahead of time, it will keep everyone from guessing what the plan is or how to get home.

Drink water and eat food throughout the day. Drink water and eat food before and while you are drinking alcoholic beverages. When our bodies process alcohol they lose hydration and nutrients. Drinking water and eating food will slow the absorption of alcohol in your bloodstream and give your body time and fuel to process the alcohol. This will go a long way to ensure responsible alcohol consumption and the safety of everyone.

Know your limit. Many people are very excited to go out, relax and have a drink with friends and family at their favorite restaurant or bar. This excitement could lead to overindulgence. The Alliance urges all Oklahomans to know their limit and stop when they have had enough to drink.

“We’re seeing restaurant and bar patios start to fill up for the first time in over a year and it is so exciting for our fellow Oklahomans to get back to doing things they love,” said Barnes. “The last thing we want to see is someone overdo it and hurt themselves or others because they chose to drink and drive.”

Alcohol responsibility is the number one priority for the Oklahoma Beer Alliance and its members. Members partner with retailers to provide WE I.D. materials and have partnered with the Oklahoma Restaurant Association to train servers and clerks on how to properly check IDs, prevent intoxication, and stop underage drinking and drunk driving. In addition, Alliance members contribute annually to responsible consumption programs.

“We care about all Oklahoma communities and we will always remain committed to the safe and responsible consumption of our products,” said Barnes.

About Oklahoma Beer Alliance The Oklahoma Beer Alliance is dedicated to promoting common sense laws that enable Oklahomans to choose the highest quality products without compromise, while encouraging personal responsibility throughout our community that benefits the common good. For more information, please visit okbeeralliance.com.