Greene King: Free soft drinks for designated drivers this Christmas

Almost 800 Greene King pubs will be taking part in the annual festive anti-drink-drive campaign with Coca-Cola.

The pubco's brands Belhaven, Eating Inn and Hungry Horse have signed up for the 'Designated Driver' promotion, which runs until last orders on 1 January 2016.

Drink-driving falls

The reward for non-drinkers comes as the number of people driving after drinking continues to fall.

New research for the Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker​ shows that people who had consumed alcohol in the evening away from home, including a pub, restaurant or sports club, and were over the legal alcohol limit to drive, would be extremely unlikely to drive home.

The results of the survey highlighted 69% were more likely to get a taxi than drink and drive, 53% would get a lift, 49% would walk and 38% would take public transport.

Only 1% of respondents said they would actually drink and drive.

Attitude

Greene King's group marketing director Fiona Gunn said: "With drink-driving accidents being cut by half since 2004 and test failure rates falling every year, it is clear that voluntary initiatives such as the Coca-Cola Designated Driver campaign can have a positive impact on people's attitude to drink-driving.  

"Much of the credit for the declines also lies with the Government and the police through their annual campaigns, which Greene King, as a responsible pub retailer, is more than happy to support."

A Coca-Cola Christmas truck keyring with two snap-off tokens entitles the designated driver to two free drinks of any combination from a 330ml glass bottle of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, 275ml Appletiser or Appletiser Apple & Pomegranate.

To get the keyring, the driver in a group of two or more diners simply has to show their car keys to their server.