17 Million chefs on 'the sauce'

Direct Line warning to prevent fires in the home

• 17 million people cook after consuming more than two alcoholic drinks
• One in ten Brits have been gardening in the last year potentially using dangerous machinery, when they could have been over the drink drive limit
• Brits are risking serious injury by operating machinery and equipment while impaired by alcohol

New research from Direct Line home insurance reveals that 17 million people (34 per cent) in the last year have attempted to cook after consuming more than two alcoholic drinks. It appears the antics of celebrity chefs, who are often featured glugging from a glass of wine as they cook, are encouraging amateur chefs to hit ‘the sauce’. Inebriated professionals are one of the most at risk groups as they are most likely to cook at home after coming in from a night out rather than hitting the take-away on the way home.

It is not just cooks that are hitting the bottle; it seems the British gardener may be greener around the gills than green fingered. Almost one in 10 (nine per cent) people admit to having been gardening in the last year after downing more than two alcoholic drinks. If someone consumes this volume of alcohol and takes a ride on a petrol engine lawn mower on the public highway they could be prosecuted for drink driving offences and lose their licence.

The consumption of more than two drinks is likely to impair an average person’s judgement considerably and it is potentially dangerous if they are operating equipment such as fat fryers, electric carving knives, chainsaws or strimmers.

Paul Braithwaite, home insurance claims manager at Direct Line, comments: “While people may think they are fine to fire up the fryer or trim the hedge after a couple of beers, they need to remember their ability to operate this equipment will be impaired after just a couple of alcoholic drinks. People are putting themselves at increased risk of injury in the kitchen, or setting their home on fire if they fall asleep with the cooker on, after consuming alcohol.”

Ends

Notes to editors
1 Study conducted by Opinium Research 4th – 7th January 2013 amongst 2013 UK adults. Results have been extrapolated up based on applying the percentage of UK adults in the nationally representative survey to the number of people in the UK (50,371,000) according to the ONS.

For further information please contact:
Ewan Robertson 
Citigate Dewe Rogerson 
DirectLineGroup@citigatedr.co.uk 
0207 282 2981

Claire Foster
PR Manager
Direct Line
claire.foster@directlinegroup.co.uk
020 8285 8682
07900 217 264

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales no 1179980. U K Insurance Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting