RENO –– On Thursday evening, from 6 to 11 p.m., troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol will be participating in the annual alcohol awareness and education event at Scruples Bar and Grill called “If You Drink, Think.” The ninth annual event is being funded in part by the Northern Nevada DUI Task Force.

Patrons at Scruples will be provided cards to log the time, type and amount of alcohol consumed. Amounts should be similar to what they might consume on any given night of fun when alcohol is involved. To determine each patron’s level of impairment, troopers will be administering field sobriety tests outside the establishment and will also administer a free breath test using the “Intoxylizer 5000,” the same machines used statewide at detention facilities to measure breath-alcohol concentration levels.

“One of the most frequently asked questions related to drinking and driving that we hear is ‘How much alcohol does it take to become legally intoxicated?’ ” trooper Chuck Allen said. “Because everyone is built differently and processes alcohol at variable rates, this event helps allow those who participate do help determine that answer.”

Patrons are encouraged to bring a safe and sober driver. However, free Taxi cab rides courtesy of Whittlesea Taxi will be provided.

“As we approach the unofficial end of summer with the three-day Labor Day weekend, we want to bring additional awareness to drinking and driving and to educate the public on what we in law enforcement see during alcohol-related crashes and drunk driving enforcement stops,” Allen said. “For those that don’t consume alcohol and for the safe and sober designated drivers that still want to take part in the event, we will administer the field sobriety tests with the use of the ‘fatal vision’ or drunk goggles.”

Representatives from Never Drive Drunk will also be at the event providing educational information and brochures.