RALEIGH, N.C. — The holidays are filled with parties, dinners and gatherings of friends and family. However, if you're thinking about celebrating with drugs or a little too much alcohol and getting behind the wheel, think again. Law enforcement officers will be out there on the roads in full force, looking for impaired drivers. It's all part of the Booze It & Lose It campaign.

• One in three fatal crashes across North Carolina involved alcohol
• The GHSP hosted their annual Tree of Life Ceremony at the state capital, honoring the lives of the more than 1,400 people killed in crashed last year
• The Booze It & Lose It campaign kicks off on December 14 and runs through January 2, 2019

North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety program director, Mark Ezzell, spoke with Spectrum News Anchor Caroline Blair about just how large of an issue drunk or impaired driving is around the holiday season. 

He says at last count, one in three fatal crashes across North Carolina involved alcohol. As we approach Christmas Day, officials say the number of drivers gutsy enough to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs only increases.

Just recently, the GHSP hosted their annual Tree of Life Ceremony at the state capital, honoring the lives of the more than 1,400 people killed in crashed last year. Unfortunately about one third of those people died in part due to a driver under the influence.  Statistics show that young men, ages 18 to mid 30s are the most likely to participate in risky driving.

Those caught driving under the influence could be put in jail, have their driving privileges revoked, or be forced to pay thousands of dollars in fines, towing feeds and other DWI expenses.

The Booze It & Lose It campaign kicks off on December 14 and runs through January 2, 2019.  For more information visit the GFSP website.