(SIOUX CITY, IA) - A mix of booze and bad decisions this holiday weekend could create consequences long after the New Year comes and goes.

"We're just going to family's for the evening," said Lori Johnson of Sioux City. She'll be one of many on the roads Thursday evening, and having already deemed herself the "designated driver," the Iowa State Patrol says she's tackled one of the biggest issues they see this holiday.

"A designated driver isn't the least intoxicated person, a designated driver is the sober person, who has had nothing to drink," said Trooper Chad Peters. He'll be out with extra squads watching for drunks, especially in and around Woodbury County, Iowa. "We want people to have a good time, we just want them to be safe having that good time," Peters continued.

It's not necessarily Troopers' busiest day of the year, but with Christmas Eve and St. Patrick's Day, Thursday's celebration ranks up there. 

A failed sobriety test in Iowa means losing your license for 180 days, refusing one gets it tossed for a year. More importantly, though, drunk driving puts everyone at risk.

"I hope everybody does the same we're doing and has a designated driver that is responsible for everybody," said Johnson.