Alcohol Concern today urged pub owners across the UK to do their bit to cut drink-driving during the festive season. They recommend that pubs, bars and clubs significantly reduce the price of their soft drinks – or offer them for free – during the next ten days in order to help drivers stay sober during Christmas and New Year.
The price of soft drinks in UK pubs is often near the price of alcoholic ones, despite soft drinks being much cheaper for pubs to buy and produce. The average price of a pint of beer is £2.76, with prices for soft drinks ranging from £1.60 to £3.40 per pint, Alcohol Concern’s own research shows.
Welcome initiatives underway in the UK include half price soft drinks in a selection of pubs and bars in areas including Tayside and South Tyneside, and free soft drinks in all pubs run by the Wadworth Brewery. However, a Government-supported scheme from Coca Cola to offer 3-for-1 Coke to drivers is available in less than 3% of the nation’s pubs.
While drink driving is a year-round problem, fairly priced soft drinks in pubs and bars may help ease pressure on drivers over the next ten days.
Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said:
“High prices for soft drinks discourage drivers from remaining alcohol free. Moreover, it’s grossly unfair that drivers and other non drinkers should have to pay as much for soft drinks as for alcoholic ones when they’re simply trying to have a responsible night out.
Pubs, clubs and bars make huge profits on the sale of soft drinks, often marking them up by 80%. They can afford to offer them at a fairer price, especially at a time when so many people are socialising outside their homes and public transport is often lacking.”
He added: “Similar schemes in other parts of the world have delivered successful results in changing behaviour and reducing the number of accidents.
While we welcome small-scale initiatives already in place, we urge more pub owners to slash prices of soft drinks or offer them for free for drivers between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. They could make a crucial difference to the safety of thousands of their customers this festive season.”
Edmund King, President of the Automobile Association, said:
“Drivers who don’t want to drink alcohol are actually under a double pressure. They may feel that they don’t want to pay high prices for soft drinks themselves, but they may feel even more uncomfortable asking other people to pay for them. Human nature means that some may end up drinking and driving when they know they shouldn’t.”
A spokesperson from the Association of Chief Police Officers said:
“Any move by the industry to reduce the chance of anyone thinking about drinking alcohol and driving during the festive season would be welcomed by ACPO. But drivers must take responsibility for their own actions and we would encourage those people planning to drive to stick to non-alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol Concern