A local bar has come up with a proactive approach to win the fight against drink driving.
Pub goers will now be able to ring The Cavern Bar, Lower Main Street, and book a seat on the Cavern bus which will tour the greater Letterkenny area and take people there free of charge. The move comes as the problem of drink driving and increased taxi fares hits local licensed premises.
One local said this week the new mandatory breath test system coupled with the huge hike in taxi fares was effectively "driving people to drink at home."
"Taxi fares in the Letterkenny area have doubled since the introduction of the new meter system. A run from the Market Square three and half miles outside the town at night is now costing ¤15 compared to ¤8 for the same trip before the meter system was brought in. Three pints would cost somebody x30 including the taxi run- or the equivalent of x10 per pint! Sure that's crazy," the local man said.
However, management at The Cavern have come up with their own approach to help win the fight against the incessant problem of drink driving and the lack of adequate public transport.
"The Cavern acknowledge the necessity and rationale of such stringent measures but fail to accept that the local should necessarily suffer as a result. As such we have opted to assist this national campaign with our own reward for patrons who wish to maintain a healty social life and yet fully comply with government legislation on drink driving," manager Jimmy McGinty said.
It is envisaged the bus facility will run for a five-week test period up to January 2 and will initially be available on mid week nights. Pick up times will be between 8pm and 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights intially and it is envisaged to roll out the service to weekend patrons as the festive season approaches.
For further details call the Cavern at 074-91-26733. The news comes as over 1,000 vintners across the country prepare to launch a road safety initiative offering dedicated drivers free soft drinks in the run up to Christmas.
