Embargoed until 00:01 01
December 2010 - Free soft drinks for designated drivers this Christmas
Designated drivers
will be rewarded in thousands of pubs across the country as part
of the THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign, launched today by
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.
Designated drivers will be rewarded in thousands of pubs across
the country as part of the THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign,
launched today by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.
In addition to running radio advertising, posters in pub
washrooms and online search activity, THINK! has teamed up with
Coca-Cola’s Designated Driver campaign to offer drivers free soft
drinks in more than 8,000 participating venues across Britain as
part of the Driver Friendly campaign.
Mike Penning said:
"Drivers should be in no doubt that if they get behind
the wheel after drinking this Christmas, they risk losing their
licence as well as facing a fine and even a prison sentence.
"Christmas should be a time for a celebration not a
night in the cells. That is why we have teamed up with Coca-Cola
and pub chains this Christmas to reward designated drivers as well
as reminding drivers of the consequences of getting a drink drive conviction.
"Last year 380 people were killed in accidents where the
driver was over the limit. That is why our message is clear:
don't drink and drive."
ACPO lead on roads policing, Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said:
“This year we are using information from the public to target
those areas where drink driving is a particular problem and so the
chances of getting caught are greater than ever.
“If the police stop a driver, and there is any suspicion that
they have been drinking, then they will be asked to provide a
breath test and drivers should be in no doubt that if they are
found to be over the limit they will be brought before the courts.
“Many drivers don’t realise that alcohol stays in the system for
a number of hours, and that they could still be over the limit the
next morning when driving to work or dropping the children off at
school. That is why we are asking drivers to be safe, not sorry,
this Christmas.”
Jon Woods, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Great Britain and Ireland
said:
“With Christmas just around the corner, our consumers are gearing
up to celebrate. We know how much they enjoy the festive period
and we don’t want to dampen their spirits.
"This Christmas we’re proud to be partnering with the
Government’s THINK! initiative to help raise awareness of
responsible drinking. By rewarding those drivers who choose not to
drink with a free Coke or diet Coke, we can encourage people to do
the right thing while still enjoying a great night out. It’s a
different approach to responsible drinking but our consumers love
it.”
Designated drivers should ask at the bar about how to take
advantage of the buy one soft drink, get one free offer at
participating pubs.
The THINK! drink drive radio advertising campaign will run from 1
st December 2010 to 1 st January 2011 and posters will appear in
pub washrooms from 6 th December to 2 nd January.
Notes to Editors
The total Drink Drive campaign budget for financial year 10/11
is £550,000
For latest road casualty figures please see Reported Road
Casualties Great Britain 2009:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/rrcgb2009
To listen to the ads visit:
http://think.dft.gov.uk/think/mediacentre/237144/drinkdriving
If venues are interested in getting involved in the Driver
Friendly campaign, they should contact us at: think@23red.com
Press Enquiries: 020 7944 3066
Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292 Public
Enquiries: 0300 330 3000 Department for
Transport Website: www.dft.gov.uk |
www.twitter.com/transportgovuk
| www.youtube.com/transportgovuk
| www.flickr.com/transportgovuk
Contacts:
DfT Press Office - Roads
Phone: 020 7944 3066
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk