This Christmas, social media star Cathair Curran A.K.A Kegs has teamed up with Coca-Cola HBC and its brand partner, The Coca-Cola Company, to celebrate the launch of the annual Designated Driver campaign, which is rewarding drivers who ensure their friends and family get home safely during this festive season. With road safety remaining a top priority and with over 57 road deaths in Northern Ireland this year, the Designated Driver campaign is more important than ever before.
In the spirit of Christmas, Coca-Cola HBC will hero the Designated Drivers as the unsung heroes of the festive season, who gift their friends a lift, keeping them safe and spreading the festive cheer. With over 360 participating venues across the island of Ireland, drivers can grab two free soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range, by simply making themselves known to bar staff.
To reach consumers about the campaign, Coca-Cola HBC has partnered with social media star and podcast host Kegs, to showcase the importance of being the designated driver for friends and family this Christmas. While traffic related fatalities are slightly reduced in 2024 vs 2023 (57 v 71)*, Kegs hopes to take the wheel and push the Designated Driver message home to young people across Northern Ireland.
Head of Roads Policing, Graham Dodds, added:
“We are delighted to once again support this year’s Designated Driver campaign. Celebrating the Christmas season with our loved ones is important, but it is vital that you get home safely this Christmas by planning ahead. The Designated Driver campaign’s aim is to reward safe drivers and as a Police Service, we encourage those who are going out over this festive period to get involved.
“So far this year, 57 people have sadly lost their lives on the roads across Northern Ireland. All motorists need to consider the consequences of their actions and ensure that their friends, family and they, themselves, get home safely. Even having one drink when you are driving can have catastrophic consequences.
“When you follow our simple safety message, the Fatal Five, you can keep you and your loved ones safe. The message is simple: don’t drink or take drugs and drive, slow down, don’t be careless, always wear your seatbelt and never use your mobile phone whilst driving.”
Davide Franzetti, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC, said:
I am delighted to be launching another Designated Driver campaign this year in Northern Ireland. Each year, Designated Driver is only made possible by the incredible hospitality industry whose continued support brings this initiative to life. At Coca-Cola HBC, we want to reward the individuals who make sure their loved ones get home safe during the festive season, so I look forward to seeing the roll-out of this campaign for many years to come. I also want to thank our partners, The Department for Infrastructure, PSNI, Northern Ireland’s Hotel Federation, and Hospitality Ulster for their invaluable support of this campaign over the last 16 years”.
Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd MLA, said:
“As Minister for Infrastructure I am responsible for promoting and improving road safety and that is a responsibility I take very seriously. One of the best ways to ensure safety on our roads is by changing road user behaviour. We all have a personal responsibility to behave in a way that keeps ourselves and others safe. By working together and behaving responsibly on our roads we can make a real difference.
“As we approach the busy Christmas period it is important that everyone takes precautions when getting to and from festivities and having a designated driver is a great way of doing that and helping ensure we and others get to our event and home again safely.”
Social Media Star & Podcast Host and Coca-Cola Ambassador Kegs, said:
"I’m so proud to be partnering with Coca-Cola this Christmas to celebrate the Designated Driver, the ultimate zero heroes during this time of year! As someone who takes pride in ensuring I get my friends and family home safely after a busy night out, this campaign is so important to keep our everyone safe during the festivities.
The Designated Driver campaign in Northern Ireland is supported by the Department for Infrastructure (Road to Zero), PSNI, Hospitality Ulster and Northern Ireland Hotels Federation.
Designated Drivers can enjoy two free soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range at over 360 participating venues across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Simply identify yourself as the Designated Driver to bar staff to redeem your complimentary drinks.
The range includes Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Sprite, Deep RiverRock, and Schweppes.
Designated Drivers can download the Coca-Cola App to find out more about Coca-Cola’s participating venues and remember, this Christmas, you can be the ultimate (Coca-Cola) Zero Hero.
