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Top 10 shocking drink driving ads
Only men are at risk of driving under the influence and it is a woman’s responsibility to prevent it, the UK’s first ever drink driving advert appeared to suggest.
A screenshot of the UK’s 2007 campaign
The advert, which aired 50 years ago this year, is lightyears away from today’s campaigns with its jovial tone, smiling faces and jaunty backing track.
Four single whiskies and the risk of accident can be “twice as big”, notes the comforting narrator who adds: “If he’s been drinking, don’t let him drive. Don’t ask a man to drink and drive”, as if is only men at risk of doing so.
Drink driving was a hot topic in the 1960s with the breathalyser first introduced in 1967, however the first adverts to deter drink driving was decidedly polite and safe in its tone.
Compare this to more recent adverts, such as UK and Northern Ireland’s 2013 and 2014 efforts which are altogether more shocking, and you will see how much attitudes to tackling drink driving have changed.
Scroll through to watch 10 of the UK’s most shocking, thought-provoking and culturally-telling drink driving adverts of the past 50 years…
Office party (1964)
Fancy a jar? Forget the car (1982)
Cathy (1990)
Eyes (1992)
Crash (2004)
Moment of Doubt (2007)
Could you live with the shame? – Northern Ireland (2009)
Dont Drink Drive – Northern Ireland (2011)