Rock Hill businesses join effort to stop impaired driving, teen drinking

Downtown Rock Hill businesses and local service providers signed a pact Friday, vowing to put a lid on impaired driving and underage drinking.

Rock Hill police have seen a 21 percent increase in DUI arrests and a 20 percent increase in alcohol-related offenses in 2015 compared to the same point last year, said Joe Burton, a prevention specialist with Keystone Substance Abuse Services.

“In York County and South Carolina in general, deaths from impaired driving and underage drinking continue to be a problem … we are continuing to fight,” said Officer Wayne Maury, the Rock Hill Police Department’s downtown community officer, who is spearheading the initiative.

“It’s a way to say we’re going to stick together, and we are going to support every effort in our fight against impaired driving and underage drinking.”

Several business owners were present for Friday’s event, but Chris Routh, general manager of McHale’s Irish Pub, said he wanted to see more.

“Who doesn’t want to feel safer driving home at 3 in the morning?” he said.

While McHale’s doesn’t often see underage people trying to drink in the bar, Routh said, identifying people who have had too much to drink is a little more difficult.

“Being on the forefront and understanding the hows and whys, it’s a big deal,” he said. “With those types of numbers, this room should be full.”

Burton explained the civil and criminal penalties for providing alcohol to teenagers or intoxicated people and instructed business owners on how to spot fake IDs or people who have had too much to drink.

Also in attendance Friday were Rock Hill Police Chief Chris Watts, York County Coroner Sabrina Gast and representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and York County All on Board, a coalition that works to prevent alcohol and substance abuse among youth.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Rock Hill businesses join effort to stop impaired driving, teen drinking."