Just the tonic - how to Steer Clear all year
Landlord Steve Erne is so determined to stop his customers drinking and driving that he has decided to give away free soft drinks - all year.
He thought The News's annual Steer Clear campaign was such a good idea he opted to make it a permanent feature at his Gosport pub.
Steve had run The Five Alls in Forton Road for the past 11 years and at the beginning of this year he thought he would extend our December campaign.
He said: 'I'll do anything to discourage customers from drinking and driving so I thought I'd offer free soft drinks or coffee to any nominated driver in a group.
'They can have as many as they want during an evening and it's gone down really well with people.'
He added: 'I think the Steer Clear campaign is an excellent idea, but I thought it ought to run here all year long, not just throughout December.'
Steer Clear, launched earlier this week, is now in its eighth year.
It has won plaudits from Hampshire and West Sussex police forces as well as government ministers and MPs.
Each year dozens of bars, pubs and clubs throughout south-east Hampshire and West Sussex sign up to our roll of honour.
They pledge to offer free soft drinks or coffee to the designated driver in a group to encourage them not to touch a drop of alcohol before they get behind the wheel and drive home their friends or family.
Steve added: 'The temptation to drink and drive is not just there at Christmas and New Year, but all year round, so I thought I'd just offer this extra incentive as part of the service.'
Inspector Beth Pirie of the Cosham Roads Policing Unit has also fully endorsed this year's crusade.
She said: 'We fully support The News Steer Clear campaign and any initiative that encourages people not to drink and drive.
'The last thing I want my officers to do this year is to have to pass on the message that someone's died because a driver was irresponsible.'
Landlords taking part in the Steer Clear campaign have pledged to give the designated driver in a group of four or more a free soft drink between 6pm and 9pm from now and up to and including New Year's Eve.
The nominated driver will be able to claim his or her one free non-alcoholic drink - a lemonade, tonic, squash, cola or coffee.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Below are the pubs that have signed up to support our Steer Clear campaign:
abarbistro, White Hart Road, Old Portsmouth
Bird in Hand, Gosport Road, Fareham
Blue Bell Inn, South Street, Emsworth
Brass Monkey, West Street, Fareham
Brewers Arms, Five Heads Road, Horndean
Brewers Arms, Milton Road, Southsea
British Queen, Queens Road, Portsmouth
Carisbrooke Arms, Carisbrooke Road, Gosport, Clarence Tavern, Clarence Rd, Gosport, New Inn, Swanmore
Park Tavern, Park Road, Gosport
Clinkers Tavern, Trinity Road, Fareham
Delme Arms, Cams Hill, Fareham
Five Alls, Forton Road, Gosport
Foresters Arms, Anns Hill Road, Gosport
Golden Eagle, Delamere Road, Southsea
Harvest Home, Denmead
Jolly Taxpayer, Eastbourne Road, Portsmouth
Old Vic, St Paul's Road, Portsmouth
Painters Arms, Lake Road, Portsmouth
Portsbridge, Portsmouth Road, Cosham
Queen's Head, Titchfield
Royal Standard, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth
Seahorse, Broadsands Drive, Gosport
Ship & Castle, The Hard, Portsmouth
Ship Inn, High Street, Emsworth
Spotted Cow, London Road, Cowplain
Taswell Arms, Taswell Road, Southsea
The Deco, Elm Grove, Southsea
The Limes, Catisfield, Fareham
Victoria Inn, West Marden
Wellington, High Street, Old Portsmouth
If you want to join call Michael Powell on (023) 9262 2137 or email michael.powell@thenews.co.uk
>> Vote in our latest web poll.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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