Lift Legend scheme in Dorset needs to be "pushed more going forward"

Dorset Police are trying to mitigate drink drinking with the scheme

Author: Jamie GuerraPublished 22nd Dec 2022

Pubs, bars and hotels across Dorset have partnered with Dorset Police to offer free soft drinks to designated drivers over the festive season.

This is part of Dorset Police’s broader initiative to crack down on drink and drug driving in the South West.

The scheme has been coined “Lift Legends” as Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick explains:

“If there are five of you going out, one of you has the responsibility of getting the rest of you home safe, he or she is the ‘Lift Legend’.

“The key thing to remember is to plan responsibly and above all don’t take the risk.”

Mr Sidwick told us that drink driving is prevalent across Dorset and says 'we are trying to address it with this campaign but we are also addressing it with stricter enforcement'.

All of the pubs we spoke to had noticed drink driving to be a problem with some customers.

One landlord said:

“We are quite a rural pub, so people often drive here, have a few and drive off.”

Liam Upton from The Coach & Horses in Wimborne also noted:

“I would love to think some of our regulars don’t drink and drive, but sadly in all cases some probably do.”

Liam added that he thinks the Lift Legend scheme is a 'great idea' and 'something that needs to be pushed more going forward'. He said:

“We decided to take part in this campaign because there are too many drink drivers on the road throughout the year, but Christmas time is especially worse.”

The initiative will continue to run until January 1st 2023.

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