Ever been a designated driver? National company marks 5 years as new statistics are out
Date Posted:
Wed, Apr 8 2015,
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- More than 63 percent of American adults report having been a designated driver or having used one in 2014, according to figures cited by the Washington-based trade association for the American brewing industry.
The Beer Institute says in 2013, 49 percent of adults 21 or older said they always "get a ride, take a taxi or use public transport rather than drive if they feel buzzed" -- a 7 percentage-point increase from 2005.
The institute also says public research demonstrates parents are the most influential on teen attitudes toward drinking, and alcohol use by teens has continued its long-term decline.
The figures were released as a way to underscore that April is Alcohol Awareness Month.
That admission of responsibility is reflected in an uptick of business for at least one private company founded in Cleveland. BeMyDD offers a ridesharing alternative where its drivers chauffeur a client by operating the customer's own vehicle. Services are priced at pre-determined rates.
"We definitely see an increase," said Alexa Milkovich, vice president of marketing. "Our demand increases weekly, not just within Cleveland but nationwide. Being more socially responsible is starting to be a trend, (that) it's not cool to drink and drive. It's really taking off."
BeMyDD started on St. Patrick's Day in 2010. The five-year-old company recently relocated its headquarters to Los Angeles. The average age of its drivers is 51, 41 for its customers.
"The reason why is that generation (people near age 40) sees the value of being socially responsible," Milkovich said. "The younger generation is slower to catch up, but the parents are using BeMyDD and their kids are seeing it. It's kind of 'Hey, you guys need to use this, too.' It's starting to trickle down."
BeMyDD offers services in 76 cities in 31 states, and customers use the services for a variety of reasons. It bills itself as "the nation's largest designated-driver service."
Reasons local people use it are not surprising: those going out for drinks and dinner, Cavs games, all-day Browns tailgaters and soon baseball games, she said. Also, Milkovich added, "It could be for beer fests, wine tastings, fundraisers. We get a lot of calls for weddings."
Things to know about BeMyDD:
• Demand picks up as the weather warms up.
• Some event organizers, Milkovich said, even reserve a team of drivers to have them waiting at the end of the night.
• Pickup or Personal Driver service is offered. Pickup is where a pair of drivers is used. One drives the customer home in their own car, to avoid having to pick up their vehicle the following day, and another transports the designated driver. Personal Driver service is where a designated driver shows up and chauffeurs the customer in their car.
• Women can request female drivers.
The Beer Institute says in 2013, 49 percent of adults 21 or older said they always "get a ride, take a taxi or use public transport rather than drive if they feel buzzed" -- a 7 percentage-point increase from 2005.
The institute also says public research demonstrates parents are the most influential on teen attitudes toward drinking, and alcohol use by teens has continued its long-term decline.
The figures were released as a way to underscore that April is Alcohol Awareness Month.
That admission of responsibility is reflected in an uptick of business for at least one private company founded in Cleveland. BeMyDD offers a ridesharing alternative where its drivers chauffeur a client by operating the customer's own vehicle. Services are priced at pre-determined rates.
"We definitely see an increase," said Alexa Milkovich, vice president of marketing. "Our demand increases weekly, not just within Cleveland but nationwide. Being more socially responsible is starting to be a trend, (that) it's not cool to drink and drive. It's really taking off."
BeMyDD started on St. Patrick's Day in 2010. The five-year-old company recently relocated its headquarters to Los Angeles. The average age of its drivers is 51, 41 for its customers.
"The reason why is that generation (people near age 40) sees the value of being socially responsible," Milkovich said. "The younger generation is slower to catch up, but the parents are using BeMyDD and their kids are seeing it. It's kind of 'Hey, you guys need to use this, too.' It's starting to trickle down."
BeMyDD offers services in 76 cities in 31 states, and customers use the services for a variety of reasons. It bills itself as "the nation's largest designated-driver service."
Reasons local people use it are not surprising: those going out for drinks and dinner, Cavs games, all-day Browns tailgaters and soon baseball games, she said. Also, Milkovich added, "It could be for beer fests, wine tastings, fundraisers. We get a lot of calls for weddings."
Things to know about BeMyDD:
• Demand picks up as the weather warms up.
• Some event organizers, Milkovich said, even reserve a team of drivers to have them waiting at the end of the night.
• Pickup or Personal Driver service is offered. Pickup is where a pair of drivers is used. One drives the customer home in their own car, to avoid having to pick up their vehicle the following day, and another transports the designated driver. Personal Driver service is where a designated driver shows up and chauffeurs the customer in their car.
• Women can request female drivers.