If you're planning on indulging in a glass of Baileys this festive season, be warned not to make a common mistake that could cause chaos in your home. The popular Irish cream liqueur doesn't last more than six months once it's opened, so if you've got a bottle from last Christmas still lying around, the worst thing you can do is pour it down the sink, according to plumbing experts, reports Chronicle Live.

Many people dispose of unwanted drinks by pouring them away before recycling the bottle, but tradesmen at MyBuilder.com have advised making an exception for Baileys and other cream-based liqueurs, which they say can lead to serious blockages. Instead, you should follow the rules for disposing of other fats and seal it in a container before throwing it in your general waste bin, reports The Irish Mirror.

Having to call out an emergency plumber on Christmas Day can be a hassle, time-consuming and costly, with experts warning that emergency callouts can often be four times as expensive as regular ones, and these costs will be even higher over the festive period.

"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," said a spokesperson for My Builder.

"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."

However, it's not only Baileys that poses a threat this festive season, as turkey grease also falls under the FOG classification.

Specialists warned that the danger with disposing of these liquids down the drain is that once they cool down, they solidify and form obstructions in the pipework beneath your kitchen sink.