NBWA joins with states to promote responsible consumption

Modern Brewery Age,  Jan 24, 2005  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) has teamed with top state officials from Florida, Iowa and Kansas to produce radio public service announcements (PSA) that remind citizens to practice responsibility by never drinking to excess and never driving drunk.

The 30 and 60-second radio spots are part of NBWA's ongoing alcohol awareness campaign featuring state elected officials across the country. Other radio PSA participants include Oregon House of Representatives Speaker Karen Minnis and Senate President Peter Courtney, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds.

In one ad, Tom Gallagher, Florida's chief financial officer, tells listeners: "Traffic fatalities in Florida involving alcohol have fallen more than 30 percent over the past two decades, but I know we can do better."

In the Iowa spots, Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson reiterates the beer industry's core message on responsible consumption, reminding citizens that although illegal underage consumption is declining and traffic deaths in Iowa involving alcohol have fallen 50 percent in the last 20 years, more work needs to be done. "We can do even better," Pederson says in the spot, noting that if adults of legal drinking age choose to drink, they should also be sure to designate a driver.

In the Kansas spot, Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel William Seck shares his law enforcement experience in his ad, saying that he has seen far too many crashes caused by drunk driving. "The safety of our citizens is the main reason we strictly enforce Kansas's drunk driving laws," Seck says, as he urges "all Kansans to join in the fight against drunk driving and illegal underage drinking."

NBWA president David Rehr says that through NBWA's public service announcement campaign, beer wholesalers are building a network of advocates across the country to promote responsible, safe and moderate consumption.

"These initiatives, combined with the efforts of parents, teachers, teens and community leaders, have contributed to the steady decline in underage drinking over the past two decades," Rehr says. "Beer wholesalers sponsor thousands of programs, including sponsorship of educational speakers in schools who encourage students to stand up to peer pressure, and providing educational materials that help parents talk to their children about illegal underage drinking.

"Because of support from important state officials such as Florida CFO Tom Gallagher, Lt. Governor Pederson and Colonel Seck, citizens are being reminded of their significant role in the fight against drunk driving and the importance of practicing responsibility," said Rehr. "America's beer wholesalers are pleased to partner with state leaders who will have a positive impact on promoting this message."

COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Journals, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group