As a way of curbing both underage drinking and driving while intoxicated, the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention has laid out some guidelines for the holiday season.

CADA chairman Anthony Santucci spoke with The Royal Gazette about some of the initiatives.

"In the last two weeks we have personally delivered approximately 80 packages to licensed establishments, it is our goal to reach all establishments in Bermuda," he said.

"This is a great time of year to focus on the selling and serving of alcohol by licensed establishments as there are many office parties and company parties taking place in restaurants, bars and hotels around the Island," he added.

"All of these parties will involve waiters and bartenders serving alcohol and CADA wants to encourage and assist them to serve responsibly.

"CADA also wants to remind them of the possible legal consequences of not serving responsibly.

"This is a joint initiative between the Bermuda Police Service, Bacardi and the Department for National Drug Control."

Asked how the guidelines will help the general public, Mr. Santucci said: "The guidelines are designed to help to ensure the safety and well-being of those members of the public who patronise licensed establishments.

"When a patron consumes alcohol, their judgment is affected and becomes poorer, this is a proven fact.

"Therefore, for the patron's safety and well-being, it is of the utmost importance that at a certain point, when the patron is beginning to show signs of being visibly intoxicated, the server can intervene and cut them off from receiving any more alcohol.

"Because the patron's judgment is impaired, they are going to think they are fine and can drink more, but for safety of the patron it is up to the server to follow the guidelines and intervene and ensure the patron does not receive any more alcohol."

The guidelines also encourage licensed establishments to make a reasonable effort to secure safe transportation for drunken guests by doing one of the following, he added.

"Organise a cab for them; enlist help from a sober friend to drive them; if they are a regular and you know them well, take their keys from them," he suggested.

"This benefits all members of the public by helping to reduce drinking and driving thus making Bermuda's roads safer."

He said CADA's goal is to raise awareness in the community and encourage safety-first choices.

"No one is saying don't drink, what we are saying is don't drink to excess and don't encourage your friends and loved ones to drink to excess," said Mr. Santucci.

"Also, when planning a night out, decide who in your party won't be drinking that night and that person will do all the driving, then the next time you're going out, switch it up and have someone else be the one that's not drinking."

CADA will continue to look for new and innovative ways to help those who sell and serve alcohol to do it responsibly and without breaking the law he added: "CADA's ultimate reason for doing this is to protect the patron from the many consequences of excessive consumption and the server from the possible consequences of illegal, irresponsible serving practices.

"Ultimately we hope these guidelines will help to save lives."

For more information visit our website www.cada.bm or call us at 295-5982.