Tag: drink Driving

Diageo partners with THINK! and Greene King this Christmas to tackle drink driving

FREE PINTS OF GUINNESS 0.0 OFFER

Diageo, maker of Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, has partnered with THINK!, the Government’s official road safety campaign, and Greene King on a new initiative encouraging people to drink responsibly over the festive period.

The partnership will allow designated drivers to claim a free pint of Guinness 0.0 at participating Greene King pubs across the UK throughout December.

The latest data shows that 79% of drink-drive collisions involve male drivers or riders over the legal alcohol limit1, and younger male drivers are historically over-represented in drink drive related road casualties2. Therefore, the campaign aims to remind people looking to celebrate during the next month to not drink and drive. The initiative also marks the third consecutive year Diageo is partnering with THINK! this Christmas.

From 1st December 2023 – 1st January 2024, designated drivers wishing to take part will need to visit the Guinness website and use the pub finder search tool to locate one of the 472 Greene King pubs participating in the offer.

They will then be able to download a voucher code and present this, along with their car keys, at the bar to prove their designated driver status and claim their free Guinness 0.0.

Nuno Teles, Managing Director at Diageo GB said: “Drink driving is never acceptable. Which is why we’re building on our previous campaigns with THINK! to help encourage responsible drinking this Christmas.

“By giving designated drivers a free pint of alcohol-free Guinness 0.0, our partnership with THINK! and Greene King will allow designated drivers across the UK to still be part of the festive fun and drive everyone home safely.”

Guy Opperman, Roads Minister at Department for Transport said: “Our highly regarded THINK! campaign will be aiming to save more lives again this Christmas season and will help continue to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving.

“This is a great initiative which encourages people to act responsibly while still enjoying the festive season.”

Diageo has a long-standing commitment to promoting positive drinking through moderation and tackling the harmful use of alcohol.

This initiative is part of Diageo’s latest pledge to change the attitudes towards drink driving of five million drivers by 2030 as part of its ten-year sustainability action plan Society 2030: Spirit of Progress.

The partnership also builds on Diageo’s other existing initiatives such as its ‘Wrong Side of the Road’ virtual learning experience, a hard-hitting programme which allows individuals to have a conversation with a real drink driver to help understand the consequences of drink driving.

To find out more, please visit: guinness.com/en-gb/greene-king-00

New report urges the Government to bring in alcolocks without delay

An expert report issued today is urging the UK Government to implement an alcolock programme without delay to help reduce the number of drink drive related incidents.

Westminster’s Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) report, which IAM RoadSmart contributed to, highlights that the greater use of alcolocks will have a positive impact on road safety.

The UK’s largest independent road safety charity welcomes this latest report and the use of alcolocks – which require the driver to blow into a breath-testing instrument that is connected to the vehicle ignition system to prevent it from starting if the driver is over the limit.  

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research said: “Worldwide, integrating technology, such as alcolocks, with rehabilitation courses, has been shown to be the most effective way to stop drink drive reoffending and reduce crashes.

“Since 2010, there have been around 240 deaths a year in Great Britain involving a driver over the legal drink driving limit and in contrast to the previous decade, no progress has been made in reducing these numbers.”

The PACTS report mirrors recent research by IAM RoadSmart of over 2,000 motorists, which reveals overwhelming support from motorists to fit alcolocks in all new cars. 90 per cent of motorists support all new cars having built-in technology that immobilises the vehicle if the driver is over the limit.

From 2022 all new cars sold in Europe will be ‘alcolock enabled’ but it is up to the Government to decide how they will be used. IAM RoadSmart has previously stated they will be a useful tool to get drink drive offenders back to safer driving after a ban.

Neil added: “The evidence is clear. Nearly all motorists want new cars fitted with alcolocks to help stop the daily carnage on UK roads from drink driving and this latest PACTS report is even further endorsement.

“Apart from the human suffering caused, previous campaigns from IAM RoadSmart have found that the personal cost of a drink drive conviction could be as high as £70,000 when considering factors such as legal fees, higher car insurance premiums, alternative transport costs and potential loss of earnings following conviction – and that’s on top of possible imprisonment, lengthy bans and substantial fines.

“In the meantime, our message is clear. It must always be None for the Road”.

Read the full findings of the PACTS ‘Locking out the drink driver – using alcohol interlocks to reduce drink driving in the UK’, here.

NONE for the road

WATCH OUT FOR THE £70,000 DRINK

The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is today warning motorists of the severe financial penalty they could face as the consequence of a drink drive conviction.

The charity has calculated that the personal financial cost of drink driving could be as high as £70,000 or more when taking into account fines, legal fees, higher car insurance premiums, alternative transport costs and potential loss of earnings following conviction.

IAM RoadSmart’s research team found that costs following a drink drive conviction now include: fines of £5,000, although since these are now unlimited this could be much more; legal fees of £11,000 which is the average following conviction after a not-guilty plea; increased insurance premiums of £13,500 over five years after a driving disqualification; £2,000 for taxi and public transport costs for alternative transport during a ban; and £38,500 loss of earnings for 15 months following a conviction, based on an average UK salary.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy & Research, said: “In the run up to Christmas this year, many people’s drinking habits will have changed as a result of the coronavirus.

“So, whether you’re raising a glass for the festive season at home or, where you’re able, in a restaurant or pub, it’s important to remember that an extra drink comes with a huge hidden cost if it pushes you over the limit.”

Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, said: “Drink driving kills, so during the festive season don’t be tempted to have a drink before getting behind the wheel – it’s irresponsible and incredibly dangerous.

“We are working tirelessly, through schemes like our award winning THINK! campaign, to tackle attitudes and behaviours that could lead to people drink driving, and we continue to invest in policing and enforcement on our roads.”

 Neil continued: “Drink driving wrecks lives and is totally unacceptable in any circumstance. However, some people still think they are safe to drive when they’ve had just a couple of drinks or are using home measures, which can quickly push them over the limit.

“The £70,000 impact of being convicted of drink driving is very sobering. This should be more than enough, let alone the thought of causing any other suffering for yourself, your family or the other people you put at risk on the road, to stop those drivers who are tempted to have an extra drink and get behind the wheel.

“Our advice is therefore quite simply to always stick with ‘None for the Road’.”

To find out more visit www.iamroadsmart.com/drink-drive

THINK! campaign calls on young men to step in and stop their mates from drink driving

UK Government research has revealed that a third of people don’t think it’s important to intervene if someone they know is planning to drink and drive.

While the majority agreed that drink driving is unacceptable, only 64% said it was important to step in to stop a friend drink driving. That number drops to 45% for young males.

Figures show that 60 young drivers aged 17-24 are killed or injured each month in the UK while found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit, and young males are over represented in alcohol related deaths and serious injuries on the road.

To address this problem, THINK! has launched a campaign calling on young men to intervene and ‘Pint Block’ their mates. The campaign uses social and online video, and messaging in pubs, bars and sports clubs, to bring the message to life through a series of humorous and surreal interventions. This follows a move in recent years to focus THINK! activity on young men aged 17-24, who are 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the road than drivers aged 25 or over.

To launch Pint Block, THINK! has commissioned 60 unique Pint Block illustrations by young artists from across the country – one for each of the 60 young drivers killed or seriously injured when found to be driving over the limit every month in the UK. The Pint Blocks, which involve everything from Mexican waves to mosh pits, are a tongue-in-cheek way to spread the message that it’s okay, and indeed important, to step in and stop a friend from drinking alcohol if they are intending to drive.

The illustrations will be showcased at an exclusive THINK! pub takeover in Birmingham on 18 February where, for one night only, pub-goers will be introduced to the concept of Pint Blocking in highly original ways, with zero alcohol drinks provided by Heineken.

A mate doesn’t let a mate drink and drive

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Those who drink drive put both themselves and others at risk. While there has been a long-term reduction in drink driving since 1979, we are determined to reduce this number even further.

“Our THINK! Pint Block campaign is about empowering young men to step in and stop their mates drink driving, but it also carries a message for all of us that it’s important to intervene if someone we know is planning to drink and drive.”

Liz Brooker MBE, Chair of Road Safety Great Britain, said: “Road Safety Great Britain fully supports the THINK! Pint Block campaign. Someone who gets in their car after drinking is a risk to themselves, and all others on the road, including their friends.

“This campaign highlights the role everyone has to play in reducing the number of people who drink drive, using the power of friendship to encourage safer driving and the need to protect those we care about.”

Angela Appleton, Senior Brand Manager Heineken Low and No Alcohol, said: “We are committed to backing initiatives like THINK!’s new Pint Block campaign and ensuring that anyone who is planning to drive does not drink any alcohol.

“Friends have a key role to play here, watching out for each other and making sure designated drivers always stay on the soft and zero % drinks for the evening.”

Pint Block builds on THINK’s award-winning Mates Matter campaign which saw the biggest shift in more than a decade in young men’s attitudes towards drink-driving.

The campaign is being rolled out with the support of partners including the County FA through its grassroots football clubs, Heineken Zero, Drinkaware and insurethebox which specialises in black box insurance for young drivers.

The campaign was created in collaboration with marketing agency VMLY&R.

‘Our message is simple: the best approach is NONE’

POLICE LAUNCH DRINK/DRUG DRIVING CAMPAIGN

Sadly, statistics show that this is the time of year when Scotland’s road users are at their highest risk of being killed or seriously injured because the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sometimes “just one drink” can push you over the legal limit and in turn have devastating consequences.

The video (below) from THINK road safety is a reminder that you should not succumb to peer pressure in social situations. Every life is worth more than any extra drink.

Speaking about the launch of a campaign to tackle this issue, our national Head of Road Policing Chief Superintendent Andy Edmonston said: “As we head towards summer there are many additional social events for people to attend, such as barbecues with family and friends or larger organised events such as town shows or village galas. All are perfect opportunities to socialise in relaxed surroundings and many people will take the opportunity to have an alcoholic drink.

“Whatever the occasion, as responsible individuals, we all have a duty to consider the amount of alcohol we consume if we intend on driving. It is important to remember that the measures of alcoholic drinks consumed at social events can be significantly more than pub measures. Unfortunately, people can get caught up in the moment and unintentionally or otherwise over-indulge in alcohol.

“Drivers must consider that even if you make alternative arrangements to get home after an event, you could be over the limit the next day, depending upon the amount you have had to drink. The effects of alcohol do not wear off immediately and drivers must be aware of this if they intend driving the following morning. Make sure you do not get caught out.

“Over the next week our increased visibility and activity throughout the country aims to reassure the public that drink/drug driving is highly dangerous and publicly unacceptable. If you choose to drink and drive or drive whilst unfit due to the effects of drugs there is a high likelihood that you will be caught.

“Our message is simple – the best approach is none.”

Police Scotland is committed to achieving the Scottish Government’s 2020 casualty reduction targets by tackling the risks associated with drink/drug driving and the campaign supports the service’s efforts to reduce road casualties.

Anyone with information on drink/drug drivers can contact Police Scotland on 999 in an emergency. Alternatively call 101 or Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111

Rise in number of drink drivers caught over festive period

More than 600 motorists detected after 15% increase in checks

The proportion of drivers stopped by police who were found to be over the limit during the festive period has risen, from 2.8% to 3.3% in a year. Police Scotland’s four-week enforcement campaign saw an average of 610 drivers tested every day, a 15% rise in the number of checks carried out the year before.

Of the almost 19,000 drivers stopped during the 2016/17 festive period campaign, a total of 625 – or 1 in 30 – were over the limit, compared with 1 in 36 – during the same period in 2015/16.

More than 9% of those caught drink driving tested between the old and new limits, up on 4% the previous year.

Of the 625 detected, 46 were caught in the morning having been drinking the night before, up from 13 in 2015/16.

The Police Scotland period of enforcement coincided with a Scottish Government awareness campaign to reinforce the message that ‘the best approach is none’.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “It is hugely disappointing to see a rise in the number of drivers who have flouted the law and put their lives, and the lives of others, at risk over the festive period.

“Of course people should be enjoying time with their loved ones over Christmas and New Year but this isn’t an excuse to ignore the law and get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.

“By drink driving, including the morning after, you are not only putting yourselves at risk, but also facing a minimum one year driving ban, a criminal record, points on your licence and a substantial fine. Please remember, the best approach is none.”

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “It is an absolute disgrace that so many people were prepared to risk their own lives, as well as the lives of innocent people, by recklessly taking to the roads while in a drunken state. We were massively active over the festive season and while the number of tests we carried out was greater than last year, proportionately the number of people caught, particularly those the following morning, was greater still.

“Drivers need to take far greater personal responsibility, and also be aware that while this campaign is over, my officers still have a very sharp focus on detecting and arresting drunk drivers. I repeat the guidance given at the start of the campaign – don’t risk it, because – as these 625 people have found to their cost – we will detect and arrest you.”

The Police Scotland festive enforcement campaign ran from 2 December 2015 to 2 January 2016.

 

 

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