For those who are leery of paying pricey taxi fares on New Year’s Eve, fear not: a local business is continuing its tradition of helping customers obtain a safe ride home after enjoying a few glasses of champagne.

Local insurance provider T.A. Firth & Son will pay for the cab fares of auto club clients from New Year’s Eve provided they collect a receipt from their taxi driver and present it to the historic business on Hanson Street.

“If they bring in their receipt signed by the cab driver, we’re more than happy to refund them,” owner Howard Firth said Tuesday.

It’s an act of kindness that the insurance company has been providing to Whitehorse clients for more than 30 years.

“I didn’t think it’d be running for as long as it is. Now it’s just an automatic,” Firth said.

The original idea was his own, he said, but it’s fuzzy as to how it took shape.

Whether it was sparked from a high number of impaired driving charges or the rise of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Firth doesn’t recall.

“I do remember thinking it was something we could give back to the community and our customers.”

It started with many people taking advantage – including friends of Firth taking $150 rides to Haines Junction – but the number of receipts coming back has declined over the years.

“When we started, it used to be quite expensive for us,” he said, adding that T.A. Firth would have seen upwards of 50 receipts come back to them for reimbursement.

“But there’s an awful lot more designated drivers out there now.”

It is a good sign, not only for the business but also for the safety of those out and about on one of the biggest party nights of the year.

“We like to give back to our customers,” Firth said.

“I hope it brings attention to drinking and driving.”