Johnnie Walker, the Department for Transport’s ‘THINK!’ road safety campaign and McLaren Honda launched a unique anti-drink driving campaign at last weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The campaign saw the signatures of Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, McLaren Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ron Dennis and Racing Director Eric Boullier feature alongside the #JOINTHEPACT and ‘THINK!’ logos on the side of the McLaren Honda car to remind people not to drink and drive.
The initiative comes as Johnnie Walker celebrates their tenth year supporting McLaren and is part of the brand’s global Join the Pact campaign. By 2018, the campaign aims to collect five million commitments from people to never drink and drive. Johnnie Walker has already collected almost 2.5 million signatures from people around the world, including 25,000 at the Ryder Cup in 2014.
The campaign was seen by more than 300,000 members of the public watching the race over the Silverstone weekend and approximately 80 million viewers around the world who watched the action on TV.
Road Safety Minister Andrew Jones said: “Drivers know that drink-driving is a dangerous offence which can ruin lives. However there are still some who put themselves and other road users at risk by getting behind the wheel when they know they shouldn’t. That is why we are calling on drivers to make sure they don’t risk their safety and the safety of others by drink-driving this summer.”
Jenson Button, McLaren Honda Formula One Driver and 2009 F1 World Champion said: “Driving safely at any speed means every driver has to be fully in control at all times, something you can’t do if you drink. Racing drivers like to be fast but we also want to be safe.”
Andrew Cowan, Country Director, Diageo GB said: “We want to give a strong message to the public to never drink and drive, and can’t think of a more powerful way to do so than to partner with the government and Formula One stars to deliver this message with one voice.”
