Beer company, police unite for DUI campaign

The Newport Beach Police Department has partnered with Heineken USA and Harbor Distributing LLC to produce a dozen banners for local restaurants that sell alcohol telling customers that drinking and driving is far more expensive than simply taking a taxi home.

The banners, produced at no cost to the city, will be displayed at local bars demonstrating their support for alcohol awareness and responsible drinking. According to police, the average cost for a taxi home from a Newport Beach bar is about $28, while the cost to bail out of jail after a DUI arrest is $2,500.

In 2007, the police department made 900 arrests for public intoxication, none of which were DUIs. In the first half of 2008, police made 353 DUI arrests, a 31% increase over the same period in 2007.

Participating bars include Baja Sharkeez, Woody’s Wharf, Bluewater Grill, Mutt Lynchs’ and Balboa Saloon.

— Joseph Serna