DTRIC Insurance, Ltd., has teamed up with the Hawaii Restaurant Association (HRA) for the second year to find Hawaii’s Best Mocktails. The campaign encourages responsible alcohol consumption and service with alcohol-free cocktails that provide tasty drink options for designation drivers. Restaurants and lounges can submit their entries by March 1, 2019 online at DTRIC.com/Mocktails

“Impaired or drunk drivers cause nearly half of the traffic fatalities in Hawaii. The sad news is that they are completely avoidable, so we all need to do our part to keep Hawaii’s roads safe for everyone,” said Michele Saito, president and chief executive officer of DTRIC Insurance. “Restaurant leaders embraced our first mocktails contest and the public responded very positively to having fun alternatives to traditional cocktails. This year, we hope that more restaurants and other establishments will join in our efforts to find Hawaii’s Best Mocktails.”

“Whether serving guests in a restaurant or lounge, or hosting a party at home, a responsible host should provide alcohol-free options to ensure everyone has a fun and safe experience,” added Sheryl Matsuoka, executive director of the Hawaii Restaurant Association.

Entries will be narrowed to 14 finalists, who will be invited to compete at the Hawaii’s Best Mocktails contest on Tuesday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Waikiki Yokocho and be included in the online recipe booklet. The competition will feature two categories: Judge’s Choice, selected by a panel of media personalities, social influencers, and industry professionals; and People’s Choice, as voted on by event guests.   

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 1, 2019 and can be submitted online at DTRIC.com/Mocktails. Finalists will be notified by March 5, 2019.

Alcohol is a major factor in traffic crashes. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there was an alcohol-impaired traffic fatality every 48 minutes in 2017. According to NHTSA 10,874 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2017 and alcohol-impaired crash fatalities accounted for 29 percent of all crash fatalities.

Other partners of Hawaii’s Best Mocktails are Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Ohana Broadcasting and Frolic Hawaii.