USA: Anheuser-Busch drives home responsibility message

Hoping to "drive home" responsible drinking messages this holiday season, Anheuser-Busch released on December 11 the results of its annual designated driver poll and declared Dec. 11-17 National Designated Driver Awareness Week. The survey found that most Americans – 41 percent - would prefer to be driven home in a Hummer by their designated drivers of choice Katie Couric and George Clooney. In addition, survey respondents chose a sleigh ride by the Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch as their favorite mode of transportation.

"It's important for us to reinforce responsible behavior and encourage those who drink to use a designated driver, especially during the holiday season," said John Kaestner, vice president of Consumer Affairs, Anheuser- Busch Companies, Inc. "We'd also like to say thank you to the more than 146 million American adults who have been a designated driver or have been driven home by one. It's a great way to show others how much you care."For the last 20 years, Anheuser-Busch and its network of more than 600 local beer wholesalers have been reminding the public about the designated driver concept through advertising, server training programs and free cab ride programs, which have provided more than a half-million rides since 1989. Additional survey results include:

* Almost three-fourths (72 percent) of American adults ages 21 and older have been or have used a designated driver.

* Nearly all Americans (97 percent) are familiar with the concept of a
designated driver.

* Adults aged 21 to 24 (86 percent) have the most experience using the designated driver concept, with adults aged 35 to 44 (83 percent) next, followed by adults aged 55 to 64 (70 percent).

* "Jingle Bell Rock" won with 28 percent of the votes as the holiday song Americans would request their designated driver to play on their ride home. "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" came in a close second (25 percent), and third place was "Let it Snow" (17 percent).

* In addition to Katie Couric and George Clooney, Americans also chose Mariah Carey (18 percent), Tom Cruise (13 percent) and Orlando Bloom (8 percent) as their preferred designated drivers.

* After the Hummer, top picks for cars to be driven home in are a Mustang (18 percent), a Mini Cooper (12 percent) and a Corvette (10 percent).