The Thielen Student Health Center is asking local bar owners to treat designated drivers to free drinks.

Soft drinks, that is.

The center has partnered with the Student Health Advisory Committee to support those who choose to be designated drivers called the Cup Program.

The Cup Program provides cups to local bars that will offer free soft drinks to designated drivers, said Rebecca Fredrick, student adviser for the Student Health Advisory Committee.

“When my friends and I went out, I was usually the designated driver, and my friends could drink cheaper than I could,” said Fredrick, graduate student in education leadership and policy studies.

Many local bars already offer free soft drinks to designated drivers – a fact those with the Cup Program want to better publicize.

“We found that most of the bars were providing free pop already. What we want to do is to increase the number of bars that do this and help make people aware of it,” Fredrick said.

The program officially launched April 12.

“[The bars have] been very cooperative so far,” Fredrick said. Those businesses currently in the program include The Fox Lounge, the Maintenance Shop, Mickey’s Irish Pub, Paddy’s Sips, the Sportsman’s Lounge, Tradewinds, Welch Ave. Station and Whiskey River.

“There were some bars that were not willing to participate, which is unfortunate,” said Brian Dunn, program coordinator for the Student Health Center.

Dunn said not all bar owners have been contacted. Students are still trying to reach other bar owners to discuss joining the program.

“I think it’s a great program,” said Tony Shepherd, general manager of Sips. He guessed about 10 percent of his customers are taking advantage of the Cup Program.

“We’ll still honor it even if the advertisements and promotions are discontinued.”

Shepherd said before the program started, there was no set designated driver policy – free pop was offered, but it was a “hit and miss proposition.”

Dunn said it’s too early to determine the impact of the program, but he has heard positive feedback from students.