Accompanying young alcoholics safely
The association provides a 100% free electric shuttle for the summer, to bring drunk young people home.
This month, the article in our series dedicated to associations in the Principality and the Côte d’Azur, focuses on Be Safe, created in 2017.
We know the saying: drink or drive, you have to choose. And yet, according to data published by insurance companies and driving schools, the number of deaths linked to drink-driving is estimated at 1,000 per year in France.
An alarming figure, which French Road Safety is trying to reduce, thanks in particular to the “SAM” program, encouraging those who leave to automatically designate whoever remains sober to drive back.
In Monaco, five friends have decided to go even further in this fight, by paying the Be Safe association. Camille Gottlieb (president), Charlotte Marsan, (vice-president), Margaux Grundstein (treasurer), Andréa Puzar and Laura Dias (both general secretaries) founded this association in 2017, after a tragic event: “ A friend of ours died at a party due to drunk drivingtells us Laura Dias. We noticed a general fed up among our relatives, so we said to ourselves “we have to do something” and we decided to create this association.. »
Only here, if the five young women did not lack willpower, they still had to succeed in making themselves known, so that the actions put in place bear fruit. They were able, fortunately, to count on weight supports: “ we are supported by the Prince’s Government, the National Council, the town hall, all night establishments and private donors. »
An electric shuttle to return safely
Beyond administrative and financial support, Be Safe now has an electric shuttle, thanks to a donation. A free shuttle, designed to bring young alcoholics home (to Monaco or neighboring towns) in complete safety this summer.
And for good reason: according to figures from French Road Safety, one in three road accidents is linked to alcohol consumption. All the more reason to be extra vigilant during the summer season, conducive to parties and going out to nightclubs.
” The shuttle is on Port Hercule, near the night establishmentsexplains Laura Dias. If a young person needs it, the shuttle will be on site, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. If some people are in other establishments, like Jimmy’z or Sass, they will have our direct telephone numbers and can call us. All our contact details are on our website. (…) We have also made breathalyzers available to night establishments in Monaco. Our goal is that young people who drink were the reflex to test themselves before getting behind the wheel. »
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Alert and raise awareness
A reflex often difficult to have when you are under the influence of alcohol. This is why Be Safe has also carried out a prevention campaign with night establishments: “ on a meeting organized with the managers and on explaining to them that even if the consumption of alcohol is very good for them, behind them they do not know what can happen. (…) We will also try to carry out preventive actions in schools next September to raise awareness among young people about drink-driving. »
The objective for Be Safe is therefore also to make itself known to young people and their families, so that they know before leaving that this solution is available to them. And for now, the young women are quite optimistic.
Because if the covid-19 pandemic put a stop to the activities of the association in 2020 and 2021, it would seem that the system proved its worth in the summer of 2019. Witness Camille Gottlieb, who confirmed on Monaco Info that 270 young people were brought home safely thanks to Be Safe that same year.
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It is possible to support Be Safe in its actions thanks to donations on line or by check, to be sent to 74 Boulevard d’Italie – Office du Soleil, 98000 Monaco. These donations make it possible to multiply preventive actions, such as the establishment of shuttles and breathalyzers at the exit of nightclubs.
You can also get involved in the association by becoming a volunteer, by sending an e-mail to: [email protected].