Mentor Police Giving Away Super Bowl Kits

Update: All the Super Bowl kits have been given away.

The , along with the Lake and Cuyahoga County Safe Communities Coalitions, are encouraging football fans to have a safe, smart Super Bowl.

In that spirit, they are reminding people of the dangers of driving while impaired.

"We want all community members to enjoy the football game but we also want them to return home safely. Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk," Police Chief Daniel Llewellyn said in a statement. "Making the decision to not drink and drive or find a safe ride home is the best choice."

More than 10,000 people died in car crashes that involved an impaired driver in 2010, according to police.

Llewellyn also noted that party hosts can be held civilly liable if one of their guests drive home while impaired.

To help hosts prevent impaired driving on Super Bowl Sunday, the Mentor Police Department will provide game day party hosting kits while supplies last. The kits include:

• a football shaped bowl for guests'keys
• a recipe guide with non-alcoholic drinks
• five drink coasters
• $5 Giant Eagle gift card
• $5 Ace Taxi voucher
• crackerjacks or popcorn.

The kits will be available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Friday while supplies last.

Police also offered the following tips for hosting a safe Super Bowl Party:

1. Reassure your guests who don't want to drink that they can still have fun. Don't force drinks on your guests or rush to refill their glasses right away.

2. Always serve food, especially high-protein foods like cheese and meats that stay in the stomach longer, slowing down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

3. Avoid mixing alcohol with carbonated beverages because carbonation increases the speed that the body absorbs alcohol.

4. Have non-alcoholic drinks available.

5. Stop serving alcohol two hours before the party is over but continue serving non-alcoholic drinks and food. Be aware that this two-hour wait is not enough time for most people to clear all the alcohol from their system.

6. Don't let people drink and drive. Carpooling and cabs can save lives. It's the responsibility of everyone (especially the party host) to stop drinkersfrom driving.

7. Last, but far from least, make sure that all your guests know how you feel about drinking and driving.