CRAIGAVON-based United Wines, one of the biggest drinks distributors on the island of Ireland, has launched details of its festive safer driving campaign to help Northern Ireland revellers enjoy the party season and get home safe.  

The Designated Driver campaign will help drivers enjoy their night out whilst getting friends and family home safely.  Partygoers who volunteer themselves as a designated driver will be rewarded with a free Heineken®0.0 or Birra Moretti Zero when they make themselves known to staff at participating venues by showing their car keys at the bar.

“We are delighted once again to launch this important safety campaign to help ‘drive home’ the important message of getting home safely and keeping our roads alcohol free during the busy upcoming festive party season,” said United Wines Brand Manager Gemma Herdman.

“Those who volunteer to drive deserve to enjoy their sober night out also, so we are confident this Heineken® 0.0 and Birra Moretti Zero initiative will help bring some extra festive cheer for all.

“Recent media reports on the dwindling number of taxi drivers operating post Covid has resonated with approx. 50% of no/low alcohol drinkers who are designated drivers.  Getting home safe from a night out is becoming an increasingly challenging priority for people, especially at Christmas,” she added.

“Research* tell us that 62% of no/low alcohol drinkers stay within the beer category which is why we have selected two of our most popular brands, Heineken® 0.0 and Birra Moretti Zero, to give customers the opportunity to enjoy great tasting beers in a festive atmosphere whilst keeping safe on the roads,” concluded Gemma. 

Statistics* show that 45% of no/low alcohol drinkers want to see more options for them in the On Trade and almost 30% of no/low drinkers are drinking more no/low products than they were a year ago. 

United Wine’s Designated Driver campaign forms part of Heineken’s global drive to promote responsible drinking, which includes the recruitment of Max Verstappen, F1 World Champion for the past three years, as its new ambassador for Heineken®0.0. 

United Wines was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Craigavon with a 75,000 square foot warehouse and 6,000 square foot office. The company employs 50 people on the island of Ireland and boasts an extensive portfolio of products, including Wine, Beer, Spirits and Soft Drinks.  In 2017, the company was acquired by parent company Heineken.

Participating bars include:

Derry/L’Derry

Blackbird Bar | Brunswick Bowling Alley | Holiday Inn Express | The Ritz Bar & Bistro | The Exchange Wine Bar | Pyke n Pommes | Timber Quay | Mandarin Palace | Bishop’s Gate Hotel | Jack’s Bar

Portstewart 

The Anchor Bar | Ice House | 55 Degree’s | Mr & Mrs Jones

Portrush

Golf Links Hotel

Ballycastle

Marine Hotel | O’Connor’s Bar

Moy

PB’s | Auction Rooms | The Ryandale

Belfast

Crown Plaza | Flame Restaurant | The Parador Inn | Benedicts Hotel | The Lansdowne Hotel | Voodoo | Sweet Afton | The Morning Star | Duke of York | Orto Pizza Bar | Queen’s Student Union | 2 Taps Wine Bar

Carrickfergus

Ownies Bar & Bistro | Castello Pizzeria

Ballymena

The Grouse

Coleraine

Yoko @ the Jet Centre

Whiteabbey

The Sipster

Ballynahinch

Millbrook Lodge Hotel | Paddy Kelly’s

Omagh

Bar Rue | Grant’s Restaurant | Myles McCanns Bar | Broderick’s

Newry 

The Bridge Bar | Sapori Italini

Lisburn

Ballymac Hotel

Dunmurry

Dunmurry Golf Club

Moira

The Still House

Newcastle

Harbour House Inn | Villa Vinci

Holywood

Holywood Golf Club | The Dirty Duck Ale House

Castlewellan

Maghera Inn | Mulhollands Off Sales

Warrenpoint

Number 7 Duke Street

Lurgan

The Stables Bar

Maghera

Peter McKenna’s

Antrim

The Ramble Inn | Jake’s Cocktail Bar | Moe’s Grill

Hillsborough 

The Plough Inn

Enniskillen

Devenish Bar | Pat’s Bar

Comber

La Mon Country House Hotel | McBrides on the Square

Bangor

The Grand Social | The Nines | Wolsey’s | Carnalea Golf Club | The Esplanade Bar & Restaurant