Chicago – December 31, 2025
Brandon Johnson urged young people to be careful with alcohol, emphasizing safety and long-term well-being. He cited data showing that communities with lower underage drinking rates experience significant drops in crime and traffic accidents, especially among youth. Johnson stressed that avoiding alcohol helps students succeed in school, stay healthy, and keep neighborhoods safer. He encouraged teens to make choices that protect their future and one another.
In Chicago in 2024, there were about 530 crashes caused by drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs, underscoring the danger impaired driving still poses on city roads.
Statewide data show that 37 % of fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois involved a driver with alcohol in their system in 2022, up from 33 % several years earlier—highlighting how often alcohol plays a role in deadly wrecks.
