At this time of year, being the designated driver can be both a blessing or a curse. Whether it is by necessity or choice, buying soft drinks, mocktails or alco free beers can all add up to just as an expensive night as one on the booze but you get the joy, usually, of ferrying your drunk mates home after the Christmas Party. Yay.
In a bid to drastically cut down the amount of drink drivers at this festive time of year, many City Centre bars are now adopting the Designated Driver scheme.
As I was sitting in a pub last night surrounded by drunk colleagues, it made me change my scheduled post to put this one up instead as I truly think more people need to know about the Designated Driver scheme.
The scheme concept first started in the 1920’s in Scandinavia but has really only recently caught on in the UK.
Brands and bars are offering the ‘Des’ a free soft drink when they show their car keys. I think this is a genius move to help cut down anyone tempted to just wing it and take the car.
You are being rewarded for staying sober and safe.
I personally don’t feel any peer pressure about drinking a Coke whilst everyone is on the beers but if you do, the Head of Steam pubs in the North East are offering alcohol free Erdinger as an option on the ‘Des’ scheme along since the usual carbonated soft drinks.
For the 9th year in a row, Coca Cola are running a ‘buy one get one free’ on their branded drinks at bars across the UK. You can find your nearest participant HERE but do check your own local pubs and clubs to see what they offer independently.
I really wish more places openly promoted this scheme as it does feel a little cloak and dagger at present.
It’s great you’ve done a post on this because I don’t think many people do it. Even we’ve done it once before but have since forgotten about it since I read this! Thanks for the reminder. Good on head of steam bars.
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It definitely needs to be shouted from the rooftops, if it keeps people safe