Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's a most wonderful day of the year where everyone is Irish -- and smiling and fun are the order of the day. And boy, couldn't we use some smiling and fun in America right now.

We hope you get some time to celebrate today with friends and family, whether over lunch or activities this afternoon and evening. We certainly understand that the celebration will include tipping a few (just, please, no green beer. It's so not Irish. No self-respecting Irishman or Irishwoman would taint a perfectly good beer with green dye.)

But today is also an important day not to forget about us - the non-alcoholic beverage industry. We provide a safety net for today's activities and some Irish common sense to get you and your loved ones home safely.

Our industry offers plenty of fun options for today's celebration as well: soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, energy drinks and other fun beverages.

If you can, pick a designated driver. Keep them happy with their favorite soft drink. If you're going to have a few, keep it a few and imbibe in a heavier consumption of our products. And if the balance gets out of proportion on the alcohol half of the equation - and you don't have a designated driver - call a cab. Or ask the bartender to do it for you.

But approach today with a game plan - for having fun and doing it safely.

St. Patrick's Day truly is a day of joy and happiness. We don't want to lose anyone to tragedy.

We'll leave you with this Irish blessing: "May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go."

A healthy dose of our products will help make the second half of that blessing happen today.