UK households are being warned not to pour cream liqueurs down the kitchen sink or risk a bill of at least £200. With summer approaching and many people taking time off, experts caution against tipping leftover creamy alcoholic drinks down the drain, as it could lead to costly plumbing problems.
What Are FOGs and Why Are They Problematic?
Experts at SAGE explain that cream liqueurs, including popular brands like Baileys and flavoured varieties such as mango, strawberry, espresso, and salted caramel, are classified as FOG—fats, oils, and grease. These substances are a "plumber's worst nightmare" and also include gravy, ice cream, cream, cooking oils, salad dressings, butter, and lard.
Pouring FOGs down the sink can cause blocked pipes and fatbergs—large, rock-hard blockages in sewers formed when hardened fats, oils, and grease combine with other waste. In London alone, more than 100 tonnes of fat are poured down sinks every day, according to Thames Water, which clears over 100,000 blockages a year, with solidified fat responsible for more than half.
Legal Responsibility and Costs
Thames Water warns: "Even if you block a pipe in your home by mistake, it's legally your responsibility to fix it. Calling out a plumber could cost you more than £200."
Other Items to Avoid Pouring Down the Sink
It's not just drinks; even tuna can cause issues. On June 26, BBC DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles appeared on Morning Live to discuss fatbergs. He urged people not to pour tuna brine or oil down the sink, as leftover fish oils and food particles can build up in pipes, combine with grease and soap, and cause stubborn blockages or fatbergs.
Nick Knowles said: "Don't pour your oils down the sink. I mean, most people know not to pour oils down your sink in the bathroom or in your kitchen now. But actually, most of us will drain a tin of tuna into the sink. With the oil that's in a tin of tuna, or maybe the fat from an air fryer, or coffee grounds, all these things, add to create a block."
Proper Disposal Advice
Instead, Nick advises scraping FOGs into a disposable container: "Like a baked bean tin or anything else that you're throwing, and put them in the bin and get rid of them that way."
