Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 19 March (HL5704), whether they plan to review the Coalition Government’s policy and to seek funding from the drinks industry to fund the Department for Transport’s drink driving campaigns.
Sources of funding for campaign spend are kept under review but we currently have no plans to introduce a levy on the drinks industry to fund the drink drive campaign.
Instead our aim is to develop partnerships with brands who can provide incentives to help drivers avoid alcohol if they are driving, or to help those people who are drinking get home safely without driving. To date we have secured the following partnerships so far for our 2015 campaign:
- Coca Cola, who will be running their designated driver campaign, rewarding designated drivers with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on coke drinks in thousands of venues during the festive season.
- Budweiser who also promote and celebrate the important role of designated driver.
- Johnnie Walker, who ask drivers to take a pledge to never drink and drive, in return for discounted safe journeys home.
These initiatives are all completely funded by the partner and add significant value to the campaign.
We will continue to seek further partnerships with commercial brands who can extend the reach and impact of our campaigns.