Statewide ‘Booze It & Lose It’ Campaign Launches Aug. 25

Published on August 20, 2025

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over logo.

The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program gathered with officials in Charlotte this morning to announce the launch of the upcoming Labor Day Booze It & Lose It campaign.

The statewide enforcement initiative, which runs from Monday through Sep. 7, uses beefed up outreach and enforcement efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road during one of the busiest and most dangerous travel times of the year.

Officers, the Charlotte mayor, and state officials sitting together
Mayor Vi Lyles, state officials, AAA, and law enforcement gathered to discuss the upcoming Booze It & Lose It campaign.

Drivers can expect to see an increase in saturation law enforcement patrols and checkpoints statewide over the next few weeks.

“While Labor Day is a popular time for final summer getaways, it’s also a popular time for impaired drivers to be on the roads,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “Impaired driving is a thoroughly preventable crime. This campaign reminds everyone to make smart decisions behind the wheel and prioritize safety.

During last year’s Labor Day “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, there were 444 alcohol-involved crashes in North Carolina. Eleven of these crashes resulted in fatalities.

A man sitting in a wheelchair speaking at a podium.
Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program Mark Ezzell speaking at the podium.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles spoke at the event, along with N.C. Board of Transportation Chairman Tony Lathrop and Tiffany Wright, director of public affairs with AAA – The Auto Club Group.

“In addition to enforcement, good engineering, and strong public outreach efforts, we need a commitment from all of our motoring public to be safe on the roads,” Lathrop said. “It cannot be said enough: don’t speed, avoid distractions, always wear your seat belt and never drink and drive.