Sober Bob
What is Sober Bob?
The Sober Bob campaign has been operating in the Northern Territory since 1997 and is highlighted each year in the lead-up to Christmas encouraging people to have a designated driver - or Sober Bob - when drinking alcohol.
Sober Bob is a Northern Territory icon and the phrase ‘Who’s Bob Tonight?’ is commonplace language in the Territory. The Sober Bob campaign has successfully promoted the idea that choosing a designated driver, a Sober Bob, before going out on the town is a sensible option that prevents drink driving.
Designated drivers, Sober Bobs, are supported in their aim of remaining sober by obtaining free post mix soft drinks from some participating venues. The program promotes and encourages responsible behaviour by both drivers and hotel staff and epitomises the spirit of ‘looking after your mates’.
The aim of the Sober Bob program is to reduce and prevent alcohol-related road trauma on Territory roads, as well as reducing and preventing other alcohol-related harm to individuals and communities.
Over 110 licensed premises and 9 liquor stores across the Northern Territory are participating in the Christmas campaign this year. Some are large and busy establishments with a high turnover of patrons. Others are small remote roadhouses and pubs that wish to see their regulars safely home at the end of a night of drinking and socialising.
The effectiveness of the Sober Bob program is greatly enhanced by the willingness of licensed premises to promote the concept. Some offer free postmix drinks to designated drivers, Sober Bobs, and others supply a courtesy bus to help their patrons to get home safely. Road Safety would also like to praise the efforts and support of those licensees and, in particular, the establishments who operate the Sober Bob campaign all year round.
This season, Liquorland Bottleshops, Pit Lane Liquor and Northside Foodland have joined us to promote safe driving by displaying Sober Bob posters to encourage people planning to drink to arrange a designated sober driver.
The Sober Bob program is not about discouraging drinking, but it is about planning ahead to make sure everybody gets home safely. So, don’t forget to ask:
Who’s Bob Tonight?
Click here for participating venues