Standard Drinks Equivalence Alcohol and Health Underage Drinking Distilled Spirits Advertising Distilled Spirits Excise Taxes Product Tasting Fact Sheet

The distilled spirits industry has a vital stake in fighting alcohol abuse. No DISCUS member benefits from the abusive consumption of its products. The industry, therefore, is an important and energetic teammate with individuals, governments and public health advocacy groups in curbing alcohol abuse, underage drinking and drunk driving. DISCUS and its members support, develop or initiate hundreds of social responsibility efforts to educate the public about beverage alcohol:

• Century Council: DISCUS member companies are the principal supporters of this non-profit organization dedicated to reducing alcohol abuse across the United States. Through public/private partnerships, Century Council investigates, funds and implements innovative approaches to address the problems of drunk driving and underage drinking.
• White House Leadership Conference on Youth, Drug Use, and Violence: DISCUS President/CEO joined President Clinton, six cabinet heads and national and community leaders to develop public/private partnerships to reduce adolescent drug use and violence.
• National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD): NCADD is a non-profit organization of private and public sector leaders who are dedicated to minimizing the human and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes as a result of impaired driving. NCADD chairs the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Coalition, a program established by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
• Drunk Driving Prevention Act (DDPA): In 1994 DISCUS developed and initiated this model legislation which is saving lives by strengthening drunk driving laws. Its provisions, many of which are being considered and adopted by state legislatures around the country, include: mandatory alcohol and drug education for drivers; ban of open containers in motor vehicles; Administrative License Revocation (ALR) authorizing a police officer to confiscate the license of any driver who either fails a chemical test or refuses to submit to it; zero tolerance for drivers under age 21; mandatory license revocation for persons under age 21 who attempt to purchase, consume, or misrepresent his/her age for the purpose of buying or consuming beverage alcohol; and mandatory alcohol and drug testing in fatal crashes.
• BACCHUS (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning Health of University Students): BACCHUS is a college based peer education program to reduce alcohol abuse. Its educational materials include: Open Doors, A guide to alcohol and residence life for Resident Administrators; Community College Guide to Peer Education; Gamma Guide (Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol); Certified Peer Educator Training Program; and Student Athletes as Peer Educators.
• "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk:" DISCUS joined with the U.S. Department of Transportation in this joint public service campaign to promote the use of designated drivers. Both the Secretary of Transportation and President Ronald Reagan commended this program.
• "Know the Meaning of the Word:" A national campaign distinguishing alcohol abuse from responsible alcohol use. DISCUS distributed over 44,000 moderation and abuse posters. Radio PSAs aired over 17,000 times on over 200 stations in 45 states. All campaign materials stressed that, if you are under 21, the only use is zero use.
• "Know Your Limits:" Since 1972, DISCUS has facilitated "Know Your Limits" campaigns in 35 states and DC, and has twice sponsored national "Know Your Limits" campaigns with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• "The Perfect Party Mix - Good Friends, Good Refreshments, and Good Judgement:" addressed the issue of alcohol consumption while at a party. The PSA appeared in national magazines and a radio PSA aired over 17,000 times on over 200 stations.
• TIPS Program (Training for Intervention Procedures by Servers of Alcohol): Workshops designed to teach participants acceptable standards of practice for serving or selling beverage alcohol. TIPS offers programs for on-premise, off-premise, university settings, workplace, social functions and parents.
• License Beverage Information Council (LBIC): DISCUS member companies are the primary supporters of the LBIC. Through partnerships with federal, state and local governments and non-profit public health organizations, LBIC has been a catalyst in education in the following areas: alcoholism as a treatable disease; alcohol and pregnancy; drunk driving; and underage drinking.