Fans encouraged to be responsible
Comments (...)The Newton Police Department is reminding football fans that if your Super Bowl celebration includes alcohol, make the right decision before kickoff and always have a designated driver.
In conjunction with the national “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” message supported by the National Football League (NFL), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the HERO Campaign and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition are combining their efforts to combat drunk driving.
“We’re reminding everyone that real Super Bowl ‘Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,’” Newton Police Chief Jeff Hoebelheinrich “If your postseason game plan includes alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver in your starting line-up. We are asking all party hosts and bar owners to take extra good care of designated drivers this year. Designated drivers make sure everyone gets home safely. For taking on such an important responsibility, they should be rewarded.
“We want everyone to make the right decision for Super Bowl. Having a designated driver should be an obvious call in everyone’s play book. Making sure designated drivers know how much we appreciate their responsible decision is what will make this year’s celebration extra special — and extra safe.”
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:
• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers before kick-off or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
• Find unique ways to recognize the designated drivers at your party. Give them a great spot to watch the game.
• Whatever non-alcoholic beverage they are drinking, make sure their glass is always full. Let them have the first pass at the buffet table.
• Make sure their cars are easy to access when it is time to start driving people home.
• Serve plenty of food.
• Offer a variety of non-alcoholic choices like soft drinks, juice and water.
• Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks.
• Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age.
• Determine ahead of time when you’ll stop serving alcohol, such as one hour before the end of the party or at the end of the third quarter of the game (just like NFL stadiums) and begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Add the numbers of local cab companies into your phone so they are just one touch away. Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from driving while impaired.
• Be prepared for guests to spend the night if an alternative way home is not available.
If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:
• Designate your sober driver before the party begins and leave your car keys at home if you plan to drink.
• Find unique ways to recognize the designated drivers when you are out at a bar or restaurant.
Offer to be the designated driver the next time you go out.
• Cover the cost for parking or even pay for a tank of gas.
• Whatever non-alcoholic beverage they are drinking, make sure their glass is always full.
Pick up the tab for their food and drink.
• Before you go out, add the numbers for local cab companies in your cell phone so if you find yourself in need of a ride, it is just one touch away.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself — eat enough food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from driving while impaired.
• Always buckle up — it’s your best defense on the road.
• Remember, you do not need to drink alcohol to enjoy the game. Enjoy the game with your favorite pop, sports drink or water.
For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired.
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