The South Lake Tahoe 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 sober driver.

This local message to Super Bowl fans joins with the national “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” message from the National Football League, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the HERO Campaign and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management Coalition.

The El Dorado County Avoid the 6 DUI Task Force will be deploying special roving DUI patrols in several communities throughout the area looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired. These DUI patrols are in addition to regularly scheduled patrol officers, all looking for the tale-tell signs of an intoxicated driver behind the wheel.

Funding for the Avoid DUI Task Force is from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

The Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk message supports the league-wide designated-driver campaign called Responsibility Has Its Rewards. Celebrating its eighth season, the campaign encourages fans to participate in designated-driver programs supported by beer and concessionaire companies at every NFL stadium nationwide. Throughout the season at all 31 NFL stadiums, more than 170,000 fans made the responsible decision by pledging to be designated drivers this season. Those fans now have a chance to earn the ultimate reward – a trip to Super Bowl XLV.

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 non-alcohol beers, 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. Remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

• Always buckle up – it’s your best defense on the road.

— South Lake Tahoe Police Department