Warning issued over Baileys this Christmas as common mistake can 'wreak havoc'

16 December 2023 , 16:50

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There's one thing you should never do with Baileys (Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)

Many people will be enjoying a Baileys this Christmas, but there's something you should never do with the beverage as it could 'wreak havoc', according to experts.

Baileys is a common drink around the festive season, but the creamy Irish liqueur unfortunately doesn't last very long once it's opened, and it's recommended you polish off your bottle within six months. If you find that you've still got a bottle from last Christmas lying around that you need to get rid of, your first thought might be to pour the bottle's contents down the sink - but plumbers have warned you should never do that.

While tipping drinks down the sink so that the bottle can easily be recycled is the standard procedure, you don't want to do that with Baileys, as trade experts say it could "wreak havoc" with the pipes under your sink and cause serious blockages, tradesmen at MyBuilder.com explained to the Irish Mirror.

They said: "Cream liqueur drinks, such as the popular Christmas favourite, Baileys, can be a problem for your plumbing at Christmas. While it may be delicious to drink, it doesn't keep for long and often ends up down the sink.

"However, this sort of beverage should never be disposed of in this way. Cream liqueurs have a large fat content and as such fall into the category of FOG (Fats, Oils, and Greases). FOG should never go down the sink, as it sticks to pipes and can cause blockages. It's also responsible for 'fatbergs' in our sewers."

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And it isn't just Baileys that you have to watch out for this Christmas, as turkey fat is also classed as FOG. Experts said the issue with pouring these types of liquid down the drain is that when they cool, they can harden and create a blockage in the pipes under your sink.

If you do pour something down your sink that you weren't supposed to, it could end up ruining your Christmas, as trying to call a plumber out on Christmas day won't be easy - and will be very expensive. Experts said emergency callouts are often "four times as expensive" as regular ones, and this cost will be even higher over Christmas.

Meanwhile, if you need to dispose of old Baileys and want to know the safest way to do it, another expert previously recommended disposing of FOG liquids by sealing them in a container and popping them in your general waste bin. In the case of hot fat such as turkey fat, you will need to let it cool before disposing of it.

Zahna Eklund