GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- During the summer months, the Army Substance Abuse Program hosts its annual awareness campaign to help further reduce alcohol related incidents throughout the community.
The Summer Sense Campaign informs community members about the dangers of alcohol abuse while strengthening their awareness about the importance of safe planning during the summer and all year around.
The campaign runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
It supports the Bavaria Health Initiative and the Alcohol Incident Reduction Initiative, which aim to reduce the number of alcohol related incidents at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria.
According to Cheryl Davis-Hart, employee assistance program manager at ASAP, there is typically an increased rate of alcohol abuse and drunk driving, as well as other alcohol related accidents during the summer months.
The Summer Sense Campaign brings awareness to this fact and encourages community members to participate in summer activities in healthy and safe ways.
It is also an effort to uphold the readiness and resiliency of units as well as individual community members.
For the campaign, ASAP teams up with different partner agencies such as the Directorate of Emergency Services, the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the Medical Department Activity, and others for various events and activities throughout the summer.
One of these activities is the Designated Driver Program in collaboration with MWR.
With this program, community members are encouraged to tell staff at MWR events that they are the designated driver for their group. They will then receive a designated driver wristband and be able to enjoy nonalcoholic beverages, such as soda, for free when they wear it.
This is one example of how the campaign encourages teams, peers, family members, friends and units to develop safety plans before they go to summer outings or events.
The overall goal of the Summer Sense Campaign is to have every community member deliberately engage in the effort to reduce alcohol related incidents.
Have a plan, be aware, and don't drink and drive. If you, a family member, friend or battle buddy have a problem, contact the ASAP Office at DSN 569-7905, CIV 09641-70-569-7905.
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