Woodstock Police: Plan Your Ride Before You Raise Your Glass This St. Patrick's Day

Officers will be on patrol throughout the holiday as department reminds residents that impaired driving puts lives at risk

St. Patrick's Day falls on a Monday this year, but that has not stopped Woodstock from celebrating — and the Woodstock Police Department wants residents to make sure the night ends safely.

Ahead of the holiday, the department issued a pointed reminder on social media: if you plan to drink, arrange your ride home before the first glass is raised. The message offered three straightforward options — use a designated driver, call a rideshare service, or simply stay where you are if you have been drinking. No luck required. No excuses accepted.

That last point matters more than it might sound. St. Patrick's Day consistently ranks among the deadliest nights of the year for impaired driving across the country, and Georgia is no exception. Law enforcement agencies statewide typically report a spike in DUI stops and alcohol-related crashes around the holiday, and Cherokee County's growth over the past decade — bringing more drivers, more restaurants, and more late-night activity to the Woodstock corridor — means the stakes are higher than ever locally.

Officers will be out in force. The department's zero-tolerance stance covers all impaired driving, not just alcohol. Under Georgia law, driving under the influence of any substance — prescription medication included — is a serious criminal offense carrying consequences that range from arrest and license suspension to, in the worst cases, a crash that changes lives forever.

For residents heading to downtown Woodstock's restaurants and bars along Main Street or gathering at private parties across the city, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft offer a practical solution. Both operate throughout the Woodstock area, and booking a ride in advance is worth the extra step on a busy holiday night, when surge pricing and wait times tend to climb as the evening wears on.

The department closed its post with a line that is simple enough to remember after a few drinks: Drive sober. Arrive alive.