One person who is doing her part to stop the drinking and driving culture is a woman who has been in the business of serving drinks for almost 11 years.

Madonna Loring, who regularly bartends for the Bistro at the Beach, on Front Street, Hamilton, recently received the award for Bermuda's 'Responsible Alcohol Server of the Year'.

Not only does Ms. Loring stop serving customers who appear over the limit, but she also gives them rides home or gives them money for taxis.

She said 'No Alcohol Day' was one day out the year that the rest of Bermuda could also show their responsibility by either not drinking or doing so responsibly.

She said: "What's important to me is that I love what I do. I love my job I love the people who come into the bar and they know I am strict and the respect me for that.

"They know when they get to certain level I will make sure they are taken care of. My value in life is a person not a material object.

"I would rather see them then a vehicle. They are here, that's what is important. I have actually gone and picked up people who want to go and drink.

"I see tourists and will give them a ride to where they need to go. I do my part as much as I can."

Yesterday, Ms Loring and her employer, the Bistro at the Beach were commended by the Chairman of the The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (CADA) Anthony Santucci.

He said: "It bodes well for the Beach Bar Bistro to have Ms Loring and to make sure this programme is successful. I don't think any operators wants the problems that come with drinking."

As road accidents continue to escalate this year, in 2007, the Bermuda Police Service arrested 280 people on suspicion of impaired driving and 80 percent of those that were tested failed the breath test.

To start to tackle this problem, CADA has also introduced the programme Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) programme last year.

The five hour certifications courses help teach bartenders and others in the business how to recognise when someone has had too much to drink and how much it takes for someone to be drunk.

Executive Director of CADA Gillian Freelove-Jones said almost all of the employees at the Beach had passed the course and other establishments were definitely coming on board.

She said: "We feel there a slow building in support and the establishments each year are coming around.

"TIPS training with almost everyone here in the Beach. Last year we trained 85 people from bars restaurants and hotels."