Statement from the Secretariat of Culture of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá
@cultureinbta. Archive photos.
Editor's Note from Zonagirante.com: Bogotá lights up with art, music, and community gatherings. The Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sports presents a special program of Christmas activities that transform the city into a vibrant stage: concerts, shows, tours, workshops, and celebrations designed for community enjoyment. At Zonagirante.com, we celebrate these initiatives that reaffirm our cultural identity and our unique way of inhabiting public space. We invite everyone to go out, discover, and participate. This is a season to feel part of Bogotá, through creativity and culture.
Not a single drink if you're going to drive.
December brings gatherings, music, and joy, but also a real risk: drinking and driving. One bad decision can change everything. That's why the Mayor's Office of Bogotá is issuing a strong message: If you're going to drive, don't drink; if you've been drinking, don't drive.
The data is clear. So far in 2025, [number] cases have already been recorded. 18 dead and 192 injured due to traffic accidents in which the driver was intoxicated. In December 2024, there were 59 people dead and 1,971 injured. The 54% were motorcyclists. Between 2020 and 2024, they were reported 100 fatal accidents associated with alcohol.
This isn't about "personal risk": driving under the influence of alcohol endangers everyone. Drinking reduces attention, reflexes, and maneuverability, and also leads to overconfidence and dangerous behavior.
Prevention begins before the first toast
The civic culture campaign being launched this month proposes simple and effective actions:
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If you celebrate, plan your return. Use public transport, digital platforms, or arrange for a designated driver.
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Hand over the keys before taking the keys. Don't wait until you've been drinking.
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If someone has been drinking, don't let them drive. It's collective care.
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If you drink, don't drive. If you drive, don't drink. No excuses.
Caring for life is a collective pact
We don't want December to end with absences or stories that could have been avoided. As citizens, we cannot normalize losing lives due to displacement. Living together in Bogotá requires a shared decision: to ensure everyone gets home safely.
The city wants to keep celebrating, but it also wants January to find us whole.
Main message: not a single drink if you are going to drive.
Life comes first. Always.
All programming is free and of free admission until full capacity is reached.
The full agenda of Christmas is Culture 2025 It is available at:
https://bogota.gov.co/especiales/navidad-es-cultura-2025/
