Kentucky Alcohol Groups: We’ll Pay for the Designated Driver This Holiday Season

Kentucky has become famous for its many distilleries and its bourbon tours. And at the close of 2017, the state’s alcohol industry might also gain some notoriety for making sure its customers get a free ride home from all those year-end parties.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) and an array of other groups are funding coupons that can be used for the ride-hailing service Lyft as well as CityScoot  (opens in a new tab), a Louisville-based service that offers on-demand designated drivers to consumers, using their own cars. The program, called Safe Ride KY  (opens in a new tab), will offer $20 in ride discounts to anyone who uses either service between now and January 1. CityScoot users will get one $20 coupon; Lyft users will get two $10 coupons.

KDA President Eric Gregory noted that the effort—also supported by the Kentucky Guild of Brewers, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Kentucky, and the alcohol-monitoring firm Smart Start—reflects a high level of industry collaboration. The groups pledge to donate at least $10,000 in free rides to Kentuckians.

“We like to say that bourbon brings people together, and the holidays are a festive time to gather with family and friends,” Gregory said, according to KyForward  (opens in a new tab). “We’re proud to unite with our beer and wholesale partners in helping to make sure those celebrations are safe and responsible.”

The initiative coincides with the enforcement efforts of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS).

“We ask motorists to always be responsible behind the wheel. This includes planning a sober ride home if you intend to consume alcohol,” KOHS Executive Director Noelle Hunter said. “Drunken driving-related crashes are 100 percent preventable, and we appreciate the coalition’s efforts to help prevent these tragedies from occurring on Kentucky roadways.”

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