I love a good sensible idea. When you think about it, a little more preventative reminding could actually save lives:

Eager to combat drunken driving during the holidays, police are distributing pint glasses embossed with the logo of the Bennington Police Department to bars and restaurants. About 160 of the glasses, manufactured by Catamount Glass and donated to the department, are being given away in hopes that those using them will think twice about getting behind the wheel if they've had too many. "It should give awareness to people and make them pay attention a little more," said T.J. Carmody, owner of Carmody's restaurant, which got three cases of the glasses last week. "We're not telling people they can't have a good time, just to be more responsible."

No shaming of the loving of beer, no waiting for the tragic result of a stupid decision. In the good old days of Halifax undergrad, police stood in the beer store on Friday nights and walked the sidewalks of the main bar areas - even walking through joints. And no one minded. And you knew their names. And when they told you to take care you did. That is all these glasses do. Great idea.

Here is the story on the Bennington Police Department's own website where I...errr...borrowed the image above showing (l. to r.) program participants Lt. Paul Doucette, T.J. Carmondy, Adam Volpi. We've been in Bennington Vt a few times this year driving from Albany to Maine. A great town.