Motoring organisation the AA in partnership with drinks manufacturer Ricard UK has announced the launch of a new road safety campaign ahead of this year's festive season.

Individuals up and down the country are being encouraged to drink responsibly during the coming Christmas and New Year celebrations, while anyone planning to drive is being urged to abstain totally from any form of alcohol consumption.

The campaign is being targeted at young drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 and will feature the tagline 'The key to a great night. No car key'.

Overall, people are being encouraged to use the designated driver method to ensure at least one person refrains from alcohol when out celebrating the festivities, with women more likely than men to agree to avoiding alcohol for the sake of those they are travelling with – 58 per cent of females would agree to be a designated driver, compared to 52 per cent of males.

It is not just during the night out that people need to be wary of the dangers of alcohol though.

AA president Edmund King commented: "Alcohol levels in the body can still mean that drivers are over the limit the following morning and we want to ensure that people are fully aware of this when they are making the decision whether or not to get behind the wheel."

He added there are many urban myths surrounding methods for reducing alcohol levels the morning after a big night on the town, but in many cases, these practices are just that, myths.

Some of the most common methods cited by respondents to an AA survey were drinking lots of water (37 per cent), eating a fried breakfast (16 per cent), drinking fruit juice (nine per cent), taking aspirin (six per cent) and going for a run (three per cent).

None of the above are likely to have any effect on an individual's blood alcohol level.

Mr King concluded: "The same penalties, such as a minimum year's ban, for drink driving apply the morning after as they do the night before."