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In Britain, it's considered traditional for people to leave a glass of milk (or sometimes sherry) for Santa Claus as he makes his way around the country delivering presents.
However, a new report by online car company All Car Leasing, which aims to get people thinking about the importance of not drinking and driving this Christmas, revealed that after Santa has consumed all of the beverages kindly left by children on Christmas Eve, he won’t be sober for 5 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 6 days or until April 20th 2024 - making it likely that Santa will be permanently over the drink drive limit in the UK.
Data was collected from households with children under 15, identifying which regions of the UK are causing his inebriation and others who are looking to sober him up.
North of the boarder two of Scotland’s major cities offer Santa two very different drinks. One in eight of the Glaswegians suggested they’d leave a glass of Buckfast Tonic Wine while nearly half of Edinburgh’s residents questioned opted for some milk.
Picture: ACL
Keeping it traditional, London has stuck to sherry as the main beverage for Santa with one in three households give Santa a sip of the fortified wine accompanied by a mince pie.
• READ MORE: Buckfast fans disappointed to learn Tonic Truck Christmas Tour isn’t actually a thing
Bristolians stuck to their local favourites with 20 per cent claiming to have left Santa an ice-cold cider which equates to 1.7 units per can. Crossing the Severn Bridge Cardiff’s residents are leaving beer for Santa with 15 per cent of households.
In Birmingham, Santa will have to prepare for classic Christmas eggnog as he’ll consume 12,800 sips or 3,822 units.
Heading North Santa will be offered something softer with a third of Nottingham residents leaving father Christmas a glass of water, whilst 52 per cent of South Yorkshires biggest city Sheffield offer Santa the thirst-quenching drink, H2O, meaning he’ll down over 33,500 sips.
Mancunians have elected for something stronger with 20 per cent surveyed suggesting they’d leave out a straight whisky meaning he’d consume 11,400 sips or 7,296 units.
Leeds opted for beer meaning Santa will consume 13,425 sips or 1,107 units, while Geordies opted for a local tipple with one in five claiming they’d offer St Nicholas a Newcastle Brown Ale.
Finally Crossing the Irish Sea Santa will arrive in Belfast to a surprising beverage. The Northern Irish have opted to leave Santa a Diet Coke.
Ronnie Lawson-Jones, digital marketing manager commented: “We wanted to see the UK’s traditions on Christmas Eve, and whether the ritual of leaving mince pies and milk was still a strong favourite across many cities.
“To our surprise, it seems the tradition may be fading, and boozy brits are making sure Santa is well and truly liquored up for his journey ahead.
“We appreciate it’s not every day someone would be in this situation drinking that many sips of a range of drinks in a short amount of time. Due to Santa’s magical abilities he still remembers which Children have been good or bad to receive their presents from their wish list.
“Whilst a light-hearted study, we wanted to make people aware of the risk of drink driving during the festive season.”
