A HULL restaurant owner is calling on businesses to give free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers.
Mark Duckett, of 13 at Hull Marina, says the move will not only improve road safety, but also ensure people get home safely with someone they know and trust.
Mr Duckett started offering free soft drinks to customers a few weeks ago, and thinks other city centre venues should do the same.
He said: "One of the customers was saying to me that often, soft drinks are just as expensive as beer and wine. So I said, 'OK then, have it for free'.
"It has been really popular since then. People really like it."
Last summer, Humberside Police held a drink-driving campaign in June and July and 84 people were caught drinking and driving in the Hull and East Riding area.
In the past 30 years, road casualties caused by drink-driving have fallen dramatically.
But in 2011 there were still 280 deaths relating to drink-driving in the UK – accounting for 15 per cent of all road fatalities.
Campaigner Stephen Meara-Blount lost his younger brother, Tony, to a speeding drink-driver who was travelling at 65mph in a 30mph zone in 2006.
Mr Meara-Blount, of Hull, said he approves of Mr Duckett's idea in principle.
He said: "In theory, it is an excellent idea, but getting one person in every group to not drink might be challenging.
"I still think there really should be one rule – if you go out, leave the car at home.
"If there is someone who rarely drinks anyway, it is a good idea for them, but there might be other people who are tempted to have 'just the one'.
"I'm all for anything that encourages road safety. I hope it works."
Mr Duckett says he knows of other businesses that offer similar deals, but thinks all city centre venues should be offering free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers.
He said: "It isn't as if venues will lose a lot of money from doing it – especially if there are other people in the group drinking alcohol.
"But for the price of a pint of Coke or a glass of lemonade, we'll be helping to improve road safety and save the designated driver a few quid.
"The concept is really simple, but if everyone gets on board it could have a real impact.
"We've all seen the road safety posters and the drink-driving adverts – we know not to drink and drive.
"I hope this encourages a few more people to heed the warnings and know they can still have a good time with their friends without having a beer."
Charlotte Edding, 25, says she thinks it is an excellent idea.
The Avenues resident said: "Pints of Coke and lemonade are really expensive these days, so sometimes you end up spending the same amount as your friends do on alcohol. If every venue in Hull did this, it would be fantastic."
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