After using the tried and tested method of cracking the whip and prosecuting 574 drunk drivers on New Year’s Eve, the traffic police will try an unconventional technique to spread awareness in 2013. In a bid to dissuade Delhiites from driving under the influence, traffic police have come out with a paper bag, which features facts and figures about the outcome of drunk driving, as well as news articles about fatal accidents.

“In the first phase, we have circulated 20,000 such paper packets to the DSIIDC liquor shops,” said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic). “This is an awareness generating initiative on our part. When a person buys liquor from a shop, his attention will be drawn to the content — 23,829 people prosecuted, 6,578 people arrested and 968 driving licences suspended till November, 2012, etc — printed on the packet.”

According to sources, traffic police will introduce more such bags around Holi in March.

For those who don’t get the message the easy way, crackdowns will continue as usual. On Monday night, about 100 teams prosecuted 574 drunk drivers through alcometer tests. Of them, 221 were caught from south Delhi, where many of the Capital’s watering holes are located. Last New Year’s Eve, cops had caught 620 drunk drivers.

A total of 167 vehicles — mostly cars — were also impounded during the New Year drive this time. The only death reported was that of a biker, who was hit by a speeding car.