Celebrate safely this winter season Published Dec. 28, 2011 By Airman Cortney Paxton 341st MISSILE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS 12/28/2011 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- It's time to start celebrating those much anticipated winter holidays. Along with sugar cookies, eggnog and mistletoe comes the company of friends and loved ones. It's not uncommon for holiday get-togethers to involve alcoholic beverages, so it's imperative for Airmen to know the risks associated with impaired driving and the importance of planning a ride home if deciding to have a couple drinks. In the state of Montana, driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal, but that doesn't mean that a BAC lower than 0.08 percent is safe. According to dui-usa.drinkdriving.org, 103 deaths in 2008 were caused by accidents where at least one driver involved had a BAC of only 0.01 percent or above. It takes only a few minutes and maybe a phone call or two to develop a plan for getting home safely this holiday season; that small amount of time could prevent bad decisions and even save lives. Team Malmstrom members have several options available to them when it comes to finding a ride home this holiday season. The Airmen Against Drunk Driving program will be continuing their efforts throughout the holidays and can be reached any time throughout the night by calling 731-HOME (4663). "[The AADD program] aids all military members, civilians and their dependants," said Master Sgt. Kevin Akers, 341st Security Forces Group Tactical Response Force superintendant. "On any given night, AADD has a dedicated dispatcher from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. We also have between one and three drivers to assist. It all depends on how many volunteers dedicate themselves to assist in sustaining the program." Along with volunteers from Malmstrom, the Cascade Country Tavern Association provides free rides home all year round with the Home Safe program. This program allows bars to purchase what are called 'chits' from the CCTA for $7. When a customer needs to use the program, the cab bill is sent to the CCTA where they then pay the difference. Anyone wanting to use the Home Safe program should call the Diamond Cab company at 453-3241. For the New Year's holiday, the CCTA is providing a few more options to getting home safely. "We will be running a program with Diamond Cab that will start at 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve and will run until 10 a.m. New Years Day," said John Hayes, CCTA director. "We will pay for anyone that is going out to 'play' on New Year's Eve, including to house parties, dinner, taverns and back home. If someone is out in their own car and makes the intelligent decision to leave it at a tavern, we will pay for the ride in the morning to take them back to their car. We will also be using the shuttle vans of Hi Ho and the Flamingo Bar to help folks enjoy themselves on 10th Avenue South." Calling for a ride home is always a good plan to have, however, Airmen planning to celebrate in groups can always arrange to have a designated driver. It's important that the designated driver will not drink any alcoholic beverages and that they are willing to handle the responsibility of getting everyone home safely. "The CCTA is very thankful and proud that MAFB personnel and their families are an active and integral part of our whole community," Hayes said. "We want to provide these good people with quality and enjoyable entertainment at all levels, and at the same time, make sure that no one gets hurt. Good planning on your part is the answer. If you are going out, decide now on how you are going to get home; don't drive impaired." The winter holidays are a time for fun and celebration, but they're also a time to have a plan and start safe habits.