Brewers, Beer Importers Recognize Alcohol Awareness Month

Industry Underscores Its Commitment To Responsibility

WASHINGTON, DC – During the month of April, the Beer Institute will recognize Alcohol Awareness Month and mark the significant progress being made in reducing drunk driving and underage drinking with the support of major brewers and beer importers.

“Brewers and beer importers are deeply committed to responsibility. We are parents and neighbors ourselves, and like everyone else, we want to ensure our communities, roads and children are safe,” said Jim McGreevy, Beer Institute President and CEO. “As we approach milestone moments like proms and graduation celebrations, we must remain vigilant. We encourage consumers to commit themselves to responsibility and take advantage of the resources we’ve developed to help them, such as taxi apps, discount codes, free rides and downloadable e-books and guides that help parents talk with their children about alcohol.”

Parents have been the greatest influence on teens for more than 20 years. Of 13-17 year-olds, 68 percent cite their parents as the leading influence on whether they drink or not, an increase of 24 percent since 1991.

A recent Beer Institute White Paper, Commitment to Responsibility, drawn from data largely collected from government and academic sources such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), finds:

• More than 200,000 families have taken part in brewer-funded outreach designed to provide parents the resources they need to talk to their kids about drinking; public research demonstrates that parents are the most influential on teen attitudes toward drinking.

• In 2014, alcohol use by the nation’s teens continued its long-term decline. According to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study, drinking among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students is at record lows.

• More than 63 percent of American adults report having been a designated driver or having used one.

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving fatalities have decreased 52 percent since 1982 and 14 percent in the past five years.

• In 2013 alone, brewers and beer importers supplied more than 865,000 consumers alternative rides home.

• A 2014 report by the FTC found that more than 97 percent of all media impressions by the alcohol industry were seen by legal drinking age audiences.

But while the historical trends point to record low rates of alcohol misuse, McGreevy said that major brewers would continue investing toward the goal of reducing misuse to zero.

“Drunk driving fatalities are half what they were in 1982. Underage drinking is near historic lows. But we know there is more work to be done—zero incidents is always our goal. That is why the member companies of the Beer Institute are unwavering in our commitment to responsibility,” McGreevy said.

Industry efforts include dedication to responsible advertising and marketing dating back to well before the repeal of Prohibition. And since 1938, the industry has worked under a self-imposed advertising and marketing code of conduct. The Beer Institute and its members also work with many partners to encourage responsible retailing.

To combat drunk driving, the industry has been involved in creating public service communications, promoting alternatives to driving, encouraging server training, supporting smart policies and joining local and state coalitions and task forces.

“We have made some excellent progress, but we know that work remains,” McGreevy said. “We look forward to continuing to partner with parents, educators, law enforcement and community groups to promote the safe and legal consumption of beer in communities across the nation.”

To learn more about the Beer Institute’s Commitment to Responsibility, please visit www.BeerInstitute.org/responsibility.

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The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook.