The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Personal watercraft drivers are being reminded not to drink alcohol until after they're done having "fun in the sun" with their vehicles this summer. Saskatchewan is joining 11 other jurisdictions across Canada in launching a three-part series of poster campaigns, encouraging off-road vehicle drivers not to drink alcohol until after they have finished their vehicle activity for the day. The first poster in the series is aimed at personal watercraft drivers and features the tagline "Have fun in the sun - But don't drink 'til you're done." In the coming months, two other posters will focus on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles. "Off-road vehicles are still vehicles, and the usual rules about drinking and driving apply," Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority President and CEO Sandra Morgan said. "We want to remind drivers of these vehicles to operate them responsibly, and encourage them to wait until after they're done their activity if they plan to consume alcohol." Lifesaving Society statistics indicate that over the past five years, alcohol and drugs were a component in 65 per cent of known drownings, and that 71 per cent of drownings occur in natural environments, such as lakes, ponds and rivers. The Society says July is the deadliest month for drownings in Saskatchewan, with usually more than double the fatalities of June or August. The third week of July (July 17th-23rd this year) is the Society's Drowning Prevention Week. "The misuse of alcohol when operating off-road vehicles is becoming a concern in all areas of the country. By joining together through a national campaign, liquor jurisdictions across Canada hope to raise public awareness of this issue," Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions (CALJ) chair Don Lussier said. "This joint national campaign reminds everyone that drinking and driving should never mix, whether you are on a roadway or enjoying off-road recreational activities." The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority is a member of CALJ, which is sponsoring this latest national social responsibility initiative with the Lifesaving Society in many jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan. The Lifesaving Society's logo appears on the campaign posters, which will be distributed to all swimming facilities, liquor stores, and liquor franchises across Saskatchewan for display until September. "Every year needless accidents and deaths occur because people choose to mix alcohol with boating and other water-related activities," Lifesaving Society Saskatchewan Branch CEO Suzanne Gorman said. "The Lifesaving Society is proud to work with the Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority on this latest water safety campaign." "The campaign will raise awareness of the dangers on, in and near the water," Gorman said. "Hopefully, these messages will convince the public to think before they drink and enter the water. With the public's help we can reduce, and even eliminate, the number of alcohol-related boating and water incidents that occur in Saskatchewan."
