Citizens of Richmond for Responsible Living is kicking off its first campaign in Richmond County during Super Bowl Sunday activities with the posting of flyers urging responsible drinking and providing beverage container coasters for bars and restaurants.

The message on flyers and coasters is that fans don’t let fans drive drunk, and “Designate a sober driver for your Super Bowl party.”

Shirlyn Smith is coordinator for newly-formed CORRL. Smith works under the offices of Alcohol and Drug Services which obtained a grant to conduct programs to reduce drunk driving in Richmond and Hoke counties.

Working with Smith and ADS is a Richmond County Community Advisory Panel.

ADS received a $100,000 grant from Sandhills Mental Health to implement the program. Richmond and Hoke counties are among 18 counties in North Carolina selected for the program because they have the highest rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths.

“We want to pass on our safety message to everyone who will be drinking this weekend,” Smith said.

“Please call the right play for the big game and pass your keys to a designated driver before the Super Bowl party begins,” she said.

“Getting caught driving while impaired will earn you a costly penalty from local law enforcement and may even result in a turnover of your driving privileges,” Smith said.

While Super Bowl Sunday has become one of America’s biggest events for socialization, she said it has also become one of the most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving.

“Party hosts should keep in mind they can be held liable and prosecuted if someone they serve ends up in an impaired-driving crash,” Smith said.

Besides not letting fans drive drunk, she offers the following ways to be safer:

n Make sure all guests drinking have a designated driver.

n Serve lots of food and non-alcoholic beverages at a party.

n At the end of the third quarter, stop serving alcohol and serve coffee and desert.

n Have taxi service numbers available for those with no designated driver to call.