Festive revellers in Mid and West Wales are being warned to act responsibly near water during their night out, as part of a national charity’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign.

The campaign, run by the UK’s drowning prevention charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), urges people not to walk home near bodies of water after they have been drinking.

Last year, 20 per cent of all adult accidental drowning victims in the UK had alcohol in their bloodstream.

As part of the campaign, MAWWFRS warn people about the dangers of walking home near water after a night out drinking.

Andrea Roberts, RLSS UK community drowning prevention coordinator for Wales, said: “People tragically die each year because they’ve entered the water with alcohol in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident. Drinking near or in water can be a dangerous and deadly cocktail. Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water.

“When walking home from a night out, avoid routes that are alongside water, particularly in the darkness, and always stay with and look out for your friends.

“We want everyone to have a great time this Christmas and our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign gives essential advice to party-goers to make sure they know how to stay safe when they’re out celebrating.”

MAWWFRS, head of community safety, Karen Jones warns: “Please avoid walking near the water when you can, especially in these dark, winter nights, and ESPECIALLY when you have been drinking! River banks and cliff edges can be unstable and give way when you have good visibility during the day, let alone when it is dark and you have been drinking. Alcohol seriously affects your ability to get yourself out of trouble, if you have been drinking stay well clear from bodies of water. 

“To avoid having to walk near any bodies of water - make sure you store a taxi number in your ’phone and some emergency money at home so you can pay. If the money is at home, you can’t lose it or accidently spend it.

“Remember, in an emergency always call 999. Never enter the water to try and save someone!”

Stay Safe this Christmas

Don’t walk home near water, you might fall in

Look out for your friends, make sure they get home safely

Don’t enter the water if you have been drinking

Alcohol seriously affects your ability to get yourself out of trouble

Don’t Drink and Drown was launched in 2014 following a string of tragic drownings of young people. Research indicated that around a quarter of all adult drowning victims have alcohol in their bloodstream and RLSS UK were keen to prevent more tragedies by providing a strategic approach in hot spot areas. 

The campaign has two targeted time frames where RLSS UK and supporters push messaging through events and social media. These are September (at the start of the new university term) and December (during the festive period).

For more information on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign -

Visit our website at www.rlss.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter - @RLSSUK

Follow the campaign - #DontDrinkandDrown

Visit our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/RLSSUK 

Call - 0300 3230 096