With Christmas and New Year's Eve fast approaching, everyone is planning to have a good time with their family, friends and work colleagues. Unfortunately, there are still too many people drinking and driving, as reminded by the avalanche of tragic news on TV. Without further ado, here are some great alternatives to consider before and during your office parties and family reunions this holiday season.
Various designated driver services are available across Canada to take partying folks home safely. And it's not just during the holidays; some of them operate all year long. Whichever you choose, you'll be making the right decision for you, your loved ones and other road users. Plus, there's just a small price to pay – if any at all!
1-888 TAXIGUY (www.taxiguy.com)
The 1-888 TAXIGUY service was launched in 1998 with the collaboration of Molson Canada. It has 17,500 taxicabs in over 700 cities and towns across the country, ready to take you home as soon as you call, so just grab the phone!
What's really cool and innovative here is the Taxi Dollars program, which not only makes a great gift idea for family, friends, staff and co-workers – basically, anyone you care about – but also proves ideal for corporate functions and private events to make sure guests get home safely.
Taxi Dollars come in $5 denominations and are sold in bundles of five. The minimum purchase order is $50 (two bundles) and the shipping fees amount to $7.95. You can order them online or on the phone. There's even a mobile app that you can download. For more information, click here.
Operation Red Nose (www.operationnezrouge.com)
Operation Red Nose is probably the most widely known service in Canada with activities in Quebec, B.C., Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The 27th annual campaign will run from December 3rd to 31st, 2010.
Simply dial 1-866-DESJARDINS and give your location. A team of two volunteers will pick you up (and your car, of course) and drive you home. The service is free, but donations are obviously accepted and recommended. The money will go to non-profit organizations dedicated to helping kids and amateur sports teams.
Given the immense popularity of Operation Red Nose, patience and planning are often necessary. For the first time this year, wait times for the five major service areas in Quebec (Laval, Longueuil, Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke) will be posted on Twitter (@ONezRouge). From 9 pm to 3 am, you'll be able to check the approximate wait time (updated every hour) for your location, allowing you to anticipate when you'll be leaving the bar or restaurant.
Tolerance Zero (www.tolerancezero.ca)
Available 365 days a year from 6 pm to 4 am, Tolerance Zero remains exclusive to Quebec, more specifically Central Quebec, the Mauricie, the Eastern Townships, the Monteregie, the Chaudiere-Appalaches and the Greater Quebec City. It's now a private company that also uses teams of two volunteers. A one-year membership costs $60.
Breathalyzers (www.alcotestquebec.com)
The Alco-Tube Plus by Alco Prevention Canada is a small personal single-usage breathalyzer that will tell you if your alcohol level exceeds the legal limit. It’s an inexpensive breath test that you can use on many occasions to get a precise result (±2% margin of error) within two minutes. You can buy the Alco-Tube Plus at various drug stores and Canadian Tire for only $4.95.
Alco Prevention Canada also sells a reusable electronic personal breathalyzer, the AQ 08 Mini, at $119 plus taxes. The package even includes a $60 gift card for a designated driver service.
Know how your metabolism works
Rob Rothwell, writer for Auto123.com and Vancouver Police inspector, warns that ''these devices are not totally accurate and people should get a better understanding of how their metabolism works before using them. For example, if you quickly down a couple of beers and blow into a breathalyzer, the blood alcohol level displayed will be low since your body has only begun absorbing the alcohol. Twenty minutes later, though, when you're driving your car, you'll feel a lot more inebriated. Therefore, anyone using a breathalyzer should blow twice, 20 minutes apart, to confirm if their blood alcohol level is increasing or decreasing''.
In the end, plenty of alternatives exist out there, and while moderation always tastes better, the intoxication can sometimes get the better of us. Just make sure you respect the law and other people around you. The next time uncle Bernie aims for the car keys after quite a few drinks, know the available resources and remind him – and others – that being alive and guilt-free is the most intoxicating thing in the world.
Happy Holidays to all of you!
Various designated driver services are available across Canada to take partying folks home safely. And it's not just during the holidays; some of them operate all year long. Whichever you choose, you'll be making the right decision for you, your loved ones and other road users. Plus, there's just a small price to pay – if any at all!
1-888 TAXIGUY (www.taxiguy.com)
The 1-888 TAXIGUY service was launched in 1998 with the collaboration of Molson Canada. It has 17,500 taxicabs in over 700 cities and towns across the country, ready to take you home as soon as you call, so just grab the phone!
What's really cool and innovative here is the Taxi Dollars program, which not only makes a great gift idea for family, friends, staff and co-workers – basically, anyone you care about – but also proves ideal for corporate functions and private events to make sure guests get home safely.
Taxi Dollars come in $5 denominations and are sold in bundles of five. The minimum purchase order is $50 (two bundles) and the shipping fees amount to $7.95. You can order them online or on the phone. There's even a mobile app that you can download. For more information, click here.
Operation Red Nose (www.operationnezrouge.com)
Operation Red Nose is probably the most widely known service in Canada with activities in Quebec, B.C., Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The 27th annual campaign will run from December 3rd to 31st, 2010.
Simply dial 1-866-DESJARDINS and give your location. A team of two volunteers will pick you up (and your car, of course) and drive you home. The service is free, but donations are obviously accepted and recommended. The money will go to non-profit organizations dedicated to helping kids and amateur sports teams.
Given the immense popularity of Operation Red Nose, patience and planning are often necessary. For the first time this year, wait times for the five major service areas in Quebec (Laval, Longueuil, Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke) will be posted on Twitter (@ONezRouge). From 9 pm to 3 am, you'll be able to check the approximate wait time (updated every hour) for your location, allowing you to anticipate when you'll be leaving the bar or restaurant.
Tolerance Zero (www.tolerancezero.ca)
Available 365 days a year from 6 pm to 4 am, Tolerance Zero remains exclusive to Quebec, more specifically Central Quebec, the Mauricie, the Eastern Townships, the Monteregie, the Chaudiere-Appalaches and the Greater Quebec City. It's now a private company that also uses teams of two volunteers. A one-year membership costs $60.
Breathalyzers (www.alcotestquebec.com)
The Alco-Tube Plus by Alco Prevention Canada is a small personal single-usage breathalyzer that will tell you if your alcohol level exceeds the legal limit. It’s an inexpensive breath test that you can use on many occasions to get a precise result (±2% margin of error) within two minutes. You can buy the Alco-Tube Plus at various drug stores and Canadian Tire for only $4.95.
Alco Prevention Canada also sells a reusable electronic personal breathalyzer, the AQ 08 Mini, at $119 plus taxes. The package even includes a $60 gift card for a designated driver service.
Know how your metabolism works
Rob Rothwell, writer for Auto123.com and Vancouver Police inspector, warns that ''these devices are not totally accurate and people should get a better understanding of how their metabolism works before using them. For example, if you quickly down a couple of beers and blow into a breathalyzer, the blood alcohol level displayed will be low since your body has only begun absorbing the alcohol. Twenty minutes later, though, when you're driving your car, you'll feel a lot more inebriated. Therefore, anyone using a breathalyzer should blow twice, 20 minutes apart, to confirm if their blood alcohol level is increasing or decreasing''.
In the end, plenty of alternatives exist out there, and while moderation always tastes better, the intoxication can sometimes get the better of us. Just make sure you respect the law and other people around you. The next time uncle Bernie aims for the car keys after quite a few drinks, know the available resources and remind him – and others – that being alive and guilt-free is the most intoxicating thing in the world.
Happy Holidays to all of you!