As the calendar turns to July, it seems summer isn’t the only thing heating up at the Jersey Shore. The competition between Atlantic County restaurants and bars is building, with participants vying to win the HERO Campaign’s summer-long contest: The HEROtini Challenge. To earn donated votes, local establishments are planning a variety of events to help promote their mocktail, and secure the highly coveted, HEROtini Cup.

Launched by the HERO Campaign over Memorial Day Weekend, the HEROtini Challenge is a summer-long contest between thirty-one Atlantic County restaurants and bars, challenging each to create the best “mocktail” in celebration of designated drivers.

With creative names such as “Homerun Harper” (The Anchorage), “Your Alibi” (Ducktown Tavern), “The Spicy Mock-Arita” (Maynard’s), and “Baby Shark-atini” (Resorts), the contest is part of an on-going effort to promote the role of designated drivers, and the message of safe and sober driving with a positive, proactive approach so often associated with the HERO Campaign. This effort is one of many initiatives started by HERO Campaign founders, Bill and Muriel Elliott, in memory of their son, Navy Ensign John R. Elliott, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000.

“The HEROtini Mocktail Challenge is a fun way to make a serious point about the importance of having a designated driver,” noted Bill Elliott. “We hope everyone joins us this summer, and votes for their favorite bar and mocktail to help us save lives.”

With the goal of significantly reducing (if not eliminating) DUI incidents in Atlantic County, The HEROtini Challenge is a donate-to-vote contest, the results of which will yield very tangible results for area residents and visitors, alike. The funds raised will support the campaign’s Holiday HEROES Safe Ride Program, providing free and safe rides home locally for patrons of participating establishments over the 2019 holiday season (from Thanksgiving Eve to New Year’s Day), to prevent drinking and driving.

The contest lasts until August 29th, and participating establishments believe that by holding special events, they will help raise awareness about the importance of safe and sober driving, while also helping to spotlight their own, unique entries in the HEROtini Challenge.

If a recent affair at Tomatoes is any indication, HEROtini tasting events are a fun and effective way to engage patrons in trying a HEROtini, and raising some funds toward their votes. In June, Tomatoes was joined by their sponsor, Matt and Tom Reynolds (CRA Financial) in hosting a celebrity bartending event, the results of which earned close to $1500 in votes, a total the owners of CRA financial committed to matching, for a donated vote total of over $3000.

Given their success, other establishments have also scheduled events to fundraise for their HEROtini. On Friday, July 12th, Gregory’s of Somers Point will host a “HEROtini Backyard Bash” with sponsor and Clay’s Climate Control owner, Clay Pierce. The event will run from 6-10pm, and all donations will go towards Gregory’s HEROtini, The Safe-Tea Driver.

For information about upcoming events, or to follow along with the HEROtini Challenge highlights, visit herocampaign.org, or the HERO Campaign’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter platforms.

This article was originally published by ShoreLocal.