# Tax Funded Freebies for Drunks Free Flip Flops in England By Sandra Winn | Published 2008-12-01 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tax-funded-giveaways-for-drunks-free-flip-flops References: [torontosun](http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2008/11/29/7574971-sun.html) A Devon seaside resort in England will have policemen handing out free flip-flops to drunken revelers who have either lost their shoes, or are having balancing issues so they can “make it home safely,” according to the Toronto Sun. What a nice gesture, and one which normally wouldn’t cause one to bat an eyelash, but that isn’t the case. At issue is that funding for the free flip-flops for inebriated carousers are at the taxpayers' expense. A British Police Inspector, Adrian Leisk said, “Our aim is to reduce admissions into the accident-and-emergency room.” The report then states statistics regarding alcohol-related deaths in the UK being 12.9 per 100,000 persons. While deaths caused by alcohol-related incidents is disheartening, I’m curious as to how handing out free flip-flops to intoxicated individuals who are walking will somehow have a positive impact. Will wearing flip-flops while drunk help them not to fall into a moving vehicle more so than if they stumbled around barefoot or in heels? What a waste of hard-earned tax dollars. I’d be outraged if I were a British taxpayer. Photo Credit:[1](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3102761.html) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 39% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Activism](https://www.trendhunter.com/activism) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Awareness of Alcohol-related Incidents:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new technologies or strategies to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol consumption and reduce the number of alcohol-related incidents. - **Safe Transportation Alternatives:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative transportation solutions catered to intoxicated individuals to ensure their safe arrival home and reduce the risk of accidents. - **Behavioral Interventions for Drunk Individuals:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement behavioral interventions or programs that target drunk individuals to promote responsible behavior and mitigate potential risks. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Law Enforcement:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new technologies or approaches to help law enforcement agencies effectively address alcohol-related incidents and enhance public safety. - **Public Health:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative health campaigns or initiatives aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm and improving public health outcomes. - **Transportation:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore novel transportation solutions specifically designed to cater to intoxicated individuals, ensuring their safe and convenient travel. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pavement Brick Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unipaver.md) - [Winter Alcohol-Safety Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winter-water-safety.md) - [Free Beer-Branded Clogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crocs-and-busch-light.md) - [Hotel-Approved Sustainable Flip Flops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-flip-flops.md) - [Summer-Inspired Beverage Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beverage-promotion.md) - [Platform Statement Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/8inch-flipflops.md) - [Maximalist Summer Flip-Flops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maximalist-summer-flipflops.md) - [Pool Slide Heeled Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flipped-flop.md) - [English Weight Loss-Rewarding Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/headup.md)