Greg O’Shea launches Coca-Cola’s 20th Designated Driver campaign

Coca-Cola HBC’s Designated Driver Campaign is back for its 20th anniversary to reward drivers who play their part in getting their friends and family home safely this Christmas!

TV presenter and former olympian Greg O’Shea has teamed up with Coca-Cola HBC and its brand partner, The Coca-Cola Company, to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the 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, 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. To celebrate the 20^th anniversary, over 350 venues across the island of Ireland will participate in this year’s campaign. Drivers can grab two soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range for free, by simply making themselves known to bar staff.

As part of Designated Drivers 20^th Anniversary Coca-Cola has partnered with TV presenter, Olympian, Ironman (to name a few), Greg O’Shea, to showcase the importance of being the designated driver for your friends and family this Christmas. While traffic related fatalities are slightly reduced in 2024 vs 2023 (149 vs 165) *, Greg hopes to take the wheel and push the Designated Driver message home to young people across Ireland.

Paula Hilman, assistant commissioner at An Garda Síochána said: “Christmas is an especially busy time and as we gather to celebrate the festive season with family and friends, it is essential that we prioritise safety on our roads. An Garda Síochána do not want to spoil anyone’s festive fun but neither do we ever want to be on a family’s doorstep to deliver the horrific news that their loved one has been killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision. Unfortunately, this time of year can see an increase in collisions and driving under the influence of alcohol severely impedes a person’s ability to drive safety. If planning to enjoy a drink this festive season, please arrange for a designated driver, use public transport or call a taxi to get home safely. Plan ahead before you leave your home so that getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is never an option.”

Davide Franzetti, general manager, Coca-Cola HBC, said: “I am delighted to be celebrating 20 years of our Designated Driver campaign. This is a significant milestone that has only been made possible by our incredible hospitality industry whose continued support brings this initiative to life year after year. At Coca-Cola HBC, we want to reward the individuals who make sure their loved ones get home safe during the festive season, and this is why we are committed to continuing the roll out of this campaign across the island for many years to come. I also want to thank our partners, Garda Síochána, and the RSA for their invaluable support over the last two decades”.

Sam Waide, chief executive officer of the Road Safety Authority, said: “Designated drivers play a crucial role at Christmas.  If you offer to be that person, please do so responsibly, as your friends or work colleagues need you to be free from intoxicants to get home safely. Likewise, be mindful in the morning – going to work, to college, or the school run. Our most recent research shows that nearly a quarter of drivers admitted there were times when they may have been over the limit the morning after a big night out. This Christmas, I urge those going out to take a turn being the designated driver and do so responsibly”.

According to O’Shea, “I’m so proud to be partnering with Coca-Cola this Christmas to celebrate the ultimate zero heroes, our designated drivers! Over the last year or so, I have been very focused on my health & fitness journey, and have learned to embrace moderation, especially during a busy social season like Christmas. I love celebrating and enjoying night’s out with my friends and family, but there is no better feeling than making sure they all make it home safe and sound. So, this Christmas, I’m hoping the people of Ireland can join me and Coca-Cola as the designated driver, even for one night, this Christmas.”

The Designated Driver campaign is supported by the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána, Drinkaware, and various hospitality industry bodies in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland, now in its 16th year, the campaign is supported by the PSNI, the Department of Infrastructure (Road to Zero), and hospitality organisations.

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary, Designated Drivers can enjoy two free soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range at over 350 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.