If you find yourself at a bar this summer, pause for a moment, lift your glass – and take a read of the new safe drinking messages staring back at you.

That is the conservative plea from Tauranga's District Licensing Agency, as they roll out new safe drinking bar mats and coasters throughout the city's CBD and wider Western Bay of Plenty.

Bahama Hut general manager Karl Brambley, with the recently rolled out safe message bar mats and coasters. Photo: Tracy Hardy

Tauranga District Licensing Agency chairman John Payne says the project, in conjunction with ACC and the Ministry of Justice, is trying to provide reasonable resources to get key messages across to people.

'A drunk driver message might be served with a picture of a clown. This type of key messages are about keeping yourself safe, not over-indulging – and that you have got plans for the night.

'We have spoken to the licensees about what they wanted and they said they don't want things to be too colourful and not to detract from the message.”

In new a move to keep up to date with moving advertising platforms, the mats are fitted with a magnetic strip and QR barcode, so people can scan the barcode for alarming facts on binge drinking and the dangers of drink driving.

'This means they are going to have a longer life, and we can refresh and interchange the messages in years to come.”

Bahama Hut general manager Karl Brambley says the mats and coasters will be a handy tool in promoting a safe and enjoyable drinking culture – both for members of the public and bar owners.

He adds any visual images are certain to stick in people's minds much clearer.

'People will take note about anything around them and having something visual will help get the message across,” says Karl.

'There is always a minority that will try and ruin it for the rest, but I say 99 per cent are out to have a good time.”