The dangers of drunken cooking after the pub

Shepherd Neame has teamed up with Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) in a fire safety campaign which hopes to help pub-goers ‘keep smiling after a good night out’.

The service has reported a high proportion of house fires starting from drinkers falling asleep while cooking.

Accidental fires

The initiative argues cooking food after a night of drinking alcohol, either at the pub or at home, is not a good idea as it can lead to accidental fires in the home.

The campaign has been influenced by FaceMat, which produces beer mat cards featuring facial expressions to alter pub-goers’ looks. The flip of the mats issue a safety message about the dangers of mixing alcohol and cooking, and uses the hashtag #smilesafe.

KFRS community safety manager Charlie Smith said: “We want people to consider the consequences of cooking while under the influence of alcohol. Over half of all house fires we attend start in the kitchen.

Falling asleep

“Every year deal with a large number of alcohol and drug related fires, the cause is usually people drinking alcohol and then falling asleep while cooking or smoking.

“The aim of our new campaign is for people to keep their smiles after a good night out, by raising awareness of the risks.”

Shepherd Neame’s head of property services, Martin Godden said: “We are delighted to support KFRS in its bid to keep drinkers safe, by distributing promotional beer mats and posters across our tenanted estate.”

For more information contact the KFRS Home Safety team on 0800 923 7000 or visit www.kent-fire.org.uk​