BAUMHOLDER, Germany - Baumholder Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation is advocating for units and groups to take advantage of the designated driver promotion that DFMWR just rolled out for the holiday season. It is called I'm Stuck with Stupid. The promotion is available at FMWR Baumholder clubs encouraging responsible adults to take charge of their friends, colleagues and Soldiers.
"This promotion was originally inspired by one of my personal favorite leaders 'The Ragin' Cajun' Lt. Gen. Russel HonorAfA, who is famous for his quote 'Don't get stuck on stupid,'" said Greg Galloway, Baumholder's director of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Designated drivers abstain from alcohol on a social occasion in order to drive their companions home safely. It is intended as a safe alternative to being under the influence of alcohol. The Baumholder FMWR has designed a promotion for individuals and groups to simply ask the bartender at an FMWR facility (Shooters, Strikers and the Rheinlander) for an "I'm Stuck with Stupid" sicker. The sticker entitles the wearer to approved free non-alcoholic drinks during the promotion. Galloway approved FMWR to roll out the promotion immediately in order to serve the holiday party crowd.
The designated driver concept was developed in Scandinavia over several decades beginning in the 1920s, leading to a formalized program in the United States in the 1980s. The campaign is credited as a contributing factor to the decline in alcohol-related traffic fatalities since 1988 based on data gathered.
"Before you drink, make a plan and stick to it," said Galloway.
The FMWR promotion streamlines the sentiments of leadership in a timely manner since Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander, Installation Management Command, is pushing to "stamp out stupid." Lynch says in his list of "Lynch Pins" that if common sense were truly common, more people would have it.
"We are just trying to make it easy for folks to practice a little common sense and give them some encouragement by offering free, non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers," said Galloway.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol-impaired driving is a major factor in motor vehicle crashes, especially during the holidays. The percentage of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes during the last two weeks of December (Christmas to New Year's) statistically goes up and is especially high for 21- to 24-year-olds who have the highest percentage of impaired drivers.
"We have a significant percentage of our population between the age of 18-24," said Galloway. "We don't want to lose a single life in such a tragic way."
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