Let’s Not Wreck the Holidays: Creating a Culture of Safe Celebrations
As the festive season gathers momentum, it’s natural to look forward to holiday traditions here in Missoula—cozy get-togethers, neighborhood light displays, and raising a toast to another year. Yet along with these cherished moments, December is also a time to reflect on how we care for each other. This month, National Impaired Driving Awareness Month invites us to think about how we can ensure everyone makes it home safely. In Montana, as of December 2, 2024, we’ve experienced 99 roadway fatalities caused by impaired driving, out of a total of 185 traffic deaths. To put it in perspective, this time last year we had 178 total fatalities. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent our neighbors, friends, and loved ones who deserve to be remembered and honored by our commitment to doing better.
Changing the Conversation, One Celebration at a Time
The “Let’s Not Wreck the Holidays” campaign, spearheaded by Drive Safe Missoula, suggests that real, lasting change often starts with simple shifts in how we celebrate. Instead of focusing on what not to do, consider ways we can look out for each other, support local efforts, and spark a new tradition of safety. Think of it as choosing how we want our community story to unfold: a place where everyone is valued, respected, and able to enjoy the season without risking their lives on the roads.
Teamwork Makes the Difference
It can be inspiring to see how people—family members, friends, employers, even complete strangers—are working together to prevent impaired driving. Each of us brings our creativity and goodwill to the table. Here are a few ideas that have been gaining traction:
Holiday Parties with a Twist: Employers and hosts can try organizing celebrations where everyone arrives and departs via a ride share, shuttle, or chartered van. Not only does it ensure a sober ride home, it turns the journey into a group experience. Imagine a festive bus decked out with holiday lights and music, letting the festivities begin as soon as you step on board. By the end of the night, no one has to worry about finding a sober driver—because everyone already has one.
Sample Poster for your "Ride Share Only" holiday party. Celebrate the Designated Driver: Many families or friend groups appoint a designated driver for the evening. But what if we went beyond “just a driver” and made them the night’s VIP? Some choose to surprise their designated driver with small tokens of appreciation, like a coffee gift card, a favorite homemade treat, or even a silly trophy passed around at each event. Over time, rotating this role and honoring the designated driver can transform being sober behind the wheel into a true badge of pride.
Embracing Mocktails & Alcohol-Free Celebrations: An exciting shift is happening: more and more people are choosing to enjoy alcohol-free lifestyles, whether for health reasons, personal preference, or to support friends and family in recovery. In fact, some of Imagine Nation Brewing’s top-selling beers are their amazing non-alcoholic brews, reflecting this growing movement. Consider hosting a 100% alcohol-free gathering where you serve inventive mocktails, craft alcohol-free brews, and festive sparkling beverages. These drinks can be just as flavorful, colorful, and fun as their alcoholic counterparts—just without the risk. By showcasing an array of tasty, alcohol-free options, you create a welcoming environment for everyone, including those who want to remain sober. Your event becomes a place where the conversation, laughter, and connection take center stage, rather than the contents of a glass.
Amazing Alcohol Free Moctails Rural Solutions with a Personal Touch: In more rural areas, options like taxis, ride shares, or public transportation might be limited. Here, a bit of advance planning can go a long way. Perhaps your community could schedule a “designated driver day” where trusted individuals offer safe rides on a rotating schedule. Maybe one household volunteers to be alcohol-free on a particular holiday weekend, and another household takes a turn next time. It might feel old-fashioned, but trading sober driving duties creates camaraderie, responsibility, and tradition.
Alcohol-Free Holiday Party Make It Fun and Memorable: Consider turning the process of ensuring a sober ride home into part of the holiday fun. Maybe there’s a local scavenger hunt where participants must find clues—each clue corresponding to a different sober driving solution—and those who complete it get entered into a drawing for a small prize from a local business. Or imagine a themed “Sober Santa” night, where the person who volunteers to drive wears a Santa hat and hands out candy canes or holiday favors. By making sober driving feel festive and lighthearted, these positive choices become something we’re excited to share.
Santa's Favorite Designated Driver
Empowering Change, Together
No one enjoys being lectured or told what to do. Instead, by focusing on genuine empowerment we are trying to give our beautiful Missoula community a few tools, ideas, and a bit of encouragement to make healthy choices—we can shift the culture around impaired driving. Each step we take—whether it’s calling a ride service, embracing alcohol-free refreshments, or celebrating the friend who offers to stay sober—reinforces the idea that looking out for one another is simply who we are in Missoula.
The “Let’s Not Wreck the Holidays” campaign offers resources, stories, and inspiration on the Drive Safe Missoula website. As the holidays approach, each of us can choose something that resonates, whether it’s planning ahead, talking with friends, hosting a dry holiday party, or supporting employers who invest in sober transportation options. By weaving these ideas into our celebrations, we show we value every life on our roads. Together, we can make sure everyone has the chance to enjoy the season’s warmth and joy—and return home safely.
Thank you and Drive Safe Missoula
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