BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Raise a stein or two, then make sure you get home safe.
That’s the idea behind a new partnership between the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and ArtsQuest, which for the first time will work together to bring a DUI Awareness Campaign to this year’s Oktoberfest at SteelStacks.
The DA’s team will be on-site for the event Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11, according to a news release.
It comes as drunken and drug-impaired driving cases are on the rise in Lehigh County, hitting their highest point in at least five years.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, DUI filings jumped to 1,751 in 2024, up nearly 20% from 2023 and about 42% higher than in 2020.
The numbers — which District Attorney Gavin Holihan discussed with LehighValleyNews.com for its Road Ahead report in March — reflect cases involving alcohol, drugs or a combination of both:
- 2020: 1,235
- 2021: 1,385
- 2022: 1,512
- 2023: 1,466
- 2024: 1,751
DUIs across demographics
The trends cut across all ages and demographics, Holihan said, with some more evident than others.
Younger people are drinking less, Holihan said, and those who are drinking more are in their 40s, 50s and 60s, he said.
And women in Lehigh County seem to be drinking more heavily than before, he said.
Meanwhile, trends in neighboring Northampton County showed heavily drunken drivers are getting behind the wheel more often, Deputy District Attorney Joseph Lupackino said in March.
Those third-tier offenders, in which a driver has a blood-alcohol level of .016 of a percent — twice the limit Pennsylvania law considers too drunk to drive — or more continue to be among the more common DUI-related arrests, according to a review of court filings.
Educate and spread awareness
With tens of thousands of people expected at Oktoberfest over two weekends, the goal is to educate and spread awareness of the dangers and consequences of impaired driving, the DA's office said.
An interactive information booth will feature information on impaired driving, giveaways and activities centered on moderation and the legal consequences of DUI.
A limited number of participants also will receive Uber vouchers for a safe ride home — a strategy backed by research showing ridesharing services have helped cut alcohol-related fatal crashes nationwide.
Across the United States, ridesharing measures have been associated with an 11.4% decrease in alcohol-involved fatal crashes, according to Lyft’s Safety Advisory Council.
Like Uber, the company offers ride-hailing services across the U.S.
Educate and spread awareness
ArtsQuest welcomed the partnership, calling it an added safeguard for the community.
“This provision helps ensure our community can celebrate safely, while also giving everyone a convenient and responsible way to get home."ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel
“We truly appreciate the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office for stepping up to provide Uber rides during Oktoberfest,” ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel said.
“This provision helps ensure our community can celebrate safely, while also giving everyone a convenient and responsible way to get home.
“It’s about looking out for one another and making sure everyone can enjoy the festival responsibly."
Oktoberfest runs Oct. 3–5 and Oct. 10–12.
