Force designated drivers scheme returns for festive season

We would like to make our community aware of the latest campaign taking place across selected venues across South Wales!

Designated drivers across our force area will once again receive drinks as part of the DES Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to once again promote responsible drinking with road safety in mind.

Now in its fourth year, DES will run over the Christmas period until the start of January and includes participation from 100 premises across the force area.

How can designated drivers get involved?

Customers who make themselves known to bar staff as the designated driver – or as ‘DES’ – are then given a wristband, enabling them to receive free or discounted draught soft drinks or squash.

Whether this offer lasts all night, or for a stipulated amount of drinks, is determined by each individual licensed premises, as they are the ones covering the costs.

We know it can sometimes be a burden being the designated driver but we hope this scheme will encourage more people to be aware of the very serious consequences of drink driving and the importance of being safe on the roads.

There is no way to know how much you can drink and stay under the limit, since it can depend on your weight, age, metabolism, the amount of food you've eaten and other factors. It's also impossible to get alcohol out of your system quickly - it always takes time. A shower, a cup of coffee or other ways of ‘sobering up’ might make you feel better but won’t remove the alcohol from your system.

If you've been out drinking, you may still be affected by alcohol the next day and could lose your licence if you drive and are still over the legal limit. The biggest risk you take when driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the risk of causing a collision.

See the news article on our website for more information about the scheme and which premises have signed up to DES. There is also an interactive, colour coded map detailing where those premises are across our force area.