Designated drivers rewarded this Christmas

Designated drivers will be rewarded in 11 pubs across St Helens over the festive period.

It’s part of a campaign being rolled out in  more than 8,000 pubs and student union bars across the country as part of the THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign, launched by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.

This year's THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign will include radio advertising, posters in pub washrooms, online search activity and targeted Facebook advertising to remind drivers of the personal consequences of a drink drive conviction.  THINK! have also teamed up with Coca-Cola's Designated Driver campaign to offer drivers across the country free soft drinks at venues this Christmas as part of the Driver Friendly campaign.

Local pubs participating in the promotion are:

  • Abbey,  Hard Lane
  • Black Horse Inn, Rainhill
  • Last Orders, Higher Parr Street
  • Woodlands Hotel, Woodlands Road
  • The Rocket, Rainhill
  • Red Lion, Robins Lane
  • Bull & Dog, Clock Face Road
  • Waterside, East Lancs Road
  • Ship Inn, Rainhill
  • The Derby Arms, Church Road, Rainford
  • Lymewood Farm, Off Piele Road, Haydock

Drivers will also be able to find participating venues across the country using the Coca-Cola ‘Pub Finder’ tool, either online or via their smart phones.

THINK! campaign activity will be aimed at young men aged 17-29, who are consistently over-represented in drink drive casualty figures.

Councillor Sue  Murphy, Cabinet Member for Family Intervention and Safer Communities, said: "No one wants to spend their Christmas in a police cell. The  message is clear: don't drink and drive.  This latest campaign is to be welcomed and I hope as many drivers as possible take advantage of it keeping Christmas safe for everybody.
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Mike Penning said:"The number of drink drive deaths has fallen by more than 75% since 1979, but drink driving is still devastating lives with around 250 people killed in collisions where a driver was over the limit last year.  Our THINK! campaign makes it clear that drivers who get behind the wheel over the limit risk losing their licence as well as facing a fine and even a prison sentence.

"We are also teaming up with Coca-Cola and pub chains across the country to reward designated drivers as part of our Drive Friendly initiative, as well as reminding people of the consequences of getting a drink drive conviction.

Jon Woods, General Manager, Coca-Cola Great Britain and Ireland said:

“The holiday period is coming around quickly and everyone is beginning to make their plans.  With the majority of adults preparing to visit a pub or bar over the festive period we are proud to be partnering the Government’s THINK! Initiative to reward responsible drivers.  Designated Drivers provide a fantastic service by helping their friends and family get home safely at the end of a night out.  That’s why we think it is so important to recognise and reward them.   The THINK! drink drive campaign runs from 1 December 2011 to 1 January 2012.

Designated drivers should ask at the bar about how to take advantage of the buy one, get one free offer on Coca-Cola or Diet Coke at participating venues from 9 December 2011.

For more information and the facts visit the THINK! website