New Years Message
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 05:51PM Reduce the Risk of Impaired Driving this New Year’s -
MADD Canada’s Tips for Party-goers and Party Hosts
Oakville, Ontario, December 28, 2011 – Whether you’re attending New Year’s celebrations or hosting your own holiday party, MADD Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada are asking everyone to make safe and sober driving their number one resolution for 2012.
“New Year’s is a time of hope and new beginnings, so let’s be sure to start it off right,” said MADD Canada National President Denise Dubyk. “With a little planning and effort, we can all make sure no one suffers the tragedy of an impaired driving crash this New Year’s.”
If you’re attending a New Year’s celebration and plan to drink, know how you are getting home. Plan for a cab or public transit, arrange a designated driver or plan to stay over.
If you’re hosting a party, think about how you can help ensure your guests don’t drive impaired. Make sure food and non-alcoholic beverages are available, know who’s going to be driving, have numbers available for taxi companies and be prepared to have intoxicated guests spend the night. Hosts should also take care not to serve or make alcohol available to anyone who is or may be intoxicated, nor should they encourage intoxication by serving extra-strong drinks, double shots or high alcohol content beer.
“Everyone has an important role to play in protecting our communities from impaired driving,” said John O’Donnell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. “Keep yourself and others safe; take a few minutes before the party starts to plan your ride home.”
“Most alcohol is consumed in private homes or at party functions, rather than at licensed establishments,” Ms. Dubyk said. “So if you’re hosting a party and serving alcohol, know who’s drinking, know how they’re getting home and offer transportation options.”
For more tips for social hosts, as well as information on legal liability when serving alcohol, please see the following pamphlets in the Resource Library on MADD Canada’s web site at www.madd.ca.
- Sobering Thoughts on Safe Partying: A Guide to Avoiding Legal Liability
- Being Sued Can Ruin a Good Party: A Social Host’s Guide
- Alcohol, Teens and Catastrophe: What Every Parent Needs to Know
- Keeping Good Company: An Employer’s Guide
For party hosts looking to add a non-alcoholic beverage option to their menu, MADD Virgin Drinks are now available. To find out where you can purchase these products, simply log on to canstore.maddvirgindrinks.com. If you can’t get MADD Virgin Drinks at a store near you, these beverages can also be ordered directly online.
About MADD Canada
MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads.
About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of Canada’s leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products. "The Good Hands Network®" enables consumers to contact Allstate Canada through one of 93 community-based Agencies, directly online at www.allstate.ca and through the Customer Contact Centre at 1-800-Allstate. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), Crime Stoppers, United Way and Junior Achievement. In 2010, Allstate Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), created the Allstate All-Canadians program, a mentorship program designed to guide the next generation of Canada’s hockey youth. Learn more about this program at www.allstate.all-canadians.com. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.goodhandsadvice.ca or www.allstate.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Denise Dubyk, MADD Canada National President at 403-970-8733
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada Media Relations at 905-475-4536