The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Industry Invitational

WHAT IS Keeping an Eye on Your Safety (K.E.Y.S.)?

The K.E.Y.S. project has been initiated by Women Executives in the Beverage Industry (W.E.B.I.) to fill an appreciable void in the protection of beverage industry staff and management who are increasingly at elevated risk of injury or death to themselves or others through driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages consumed at industry-sponsored or approved events. 

The project has two distinct components:

One:   W.E.B.I., through its K.E.Y.S. project, proposes to certify as safe, industry-sponsored and approved events where alcohol is served free of charge or at reduced cost to industry employees.  K.E.Y.S. safety criteria will be approved by the leading national / international professional associations which serve the beverage and hospitality industries.

The first step in this process is to establish baseline criteria (minimum practices) that will be observed at industry-sponsored activities and will help to ensure the voluntary participation of the constituents in attendance.  These recommended ‘minimum practices’ are based upon the following premises and substantive actions:

• Construct an educational platform to inform all those potentially at increased risk of injury  through consumption of alcohol in the workplace (and extended workplace) about the hazards of drinking and driving and safe transit options for their consideration; examples being flyers, leaflets and posters at the entrance, exit and places of access to inebriants at events, announcements from the podium;
• Encouragement of  ‘Planning Ahead,’ e.g., don’t opt to drive while intoxicated because you did not pre-arrange safe alternatives;
• Publicize on event notices and invitations the available alternatives to driving (public and taxi) from the event;
• Make available transportation services to discounted accommodations for those employees required to work and consume during an event if they live out of the general event  area;
• Provide multi-modal transportation services to and from rural-based events;

Two:  W.E.B.I. proposes to develop a designated driver program that is fully underwritten by companies and individuals that are directly impacted by the increasing incidences of driving under the influence citations, accidents, injuries, and deaths.  W.E.B.I. will partner with select transportation companies.  One or two select cities will be identified to launch the initiative, cities with poor public transport schedules, a large geographic area and inconvenient taxi services (Las Vegas, Los Angeles).  

After gaining an understanding of the practical issues that need be addressed and resolved, the program will be extended into other cities that likewise do not have a balanced public transport system as do the following cities: New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Minneapolis, and San Francisco.

The targeted ‘2nd tier cities can include Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Miami, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego and others.   Underwriters / sponsors potentially include, but are not limited to trial and personal injury attorneys, USBG, unions, insurance companies, physicians, hospitals, clinics, national chain lounges and restaurants, beverage distributors, wholesalers, brand owners and managers, and larger beverage retailers.