Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company and industry leader in promoting responsible drinking, was recognized today by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) for its outstanding support of WRAP’s efforts to combat underage drinking and drunk driving in the Washington-Metropolitan Area. The 2009 WRAPPY Award for Corporate Sponsor Award was presented to Diageo during WRAP’s Annual Meeting Luncheon and Awards Ceremony today in Washington, DC.
““Diageo has a zero tolerance policy toward drunk driving and underage drinking and we are committed to working with WRAP and law enforcement officials in the Washington area to help address these complex issues,” said Guy Smith, Executive Vice President, Diageo North America. “We hope that all stakeholders who have an interest in this fight will join us in promoting responsible drinking across the region.”
WRAP’s work makes an enormous difference every day in saving lives and educating people about the dangers of irresponsible alcohol consumption. Through public education, innovative health education programs and advocacy, WRAP has been credited with helping to lower the alcohol-related traffic fatality rate in the Washington metro area and contributing to a near 10 percent decrease in the national average of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2008.
"With one-third of greater Washington's traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers, it's important to have partners to help combat this deadly problem," said Kurt Gregory Erickson, President of WRAP. “Diageo’s generous support of our lifesaving mission has been a key factor in the progress we are making to help to beat this fight against reckless drinking once and for all.”
Diageo recently announced that it will make a $100 donation to WRAP’s SoberRide initiative for each tackle recorded by a Redskins safety during the 2009 season. The donation comes as part of the "Responsibility is a Team Sport" program led by Diageo and The Washington Redskins. Created in 1993, SoberRide is a free taxicab ride program that helps to keep roads in the WashingtonD.C. area safe from impaired drivers during traditionally high-risk, holiday periods. The donation will help ensure that a greater number of taxicabs will be available to D.C. residents during these periods.
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).
For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
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About Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP)
Founded in 1982, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program is an award-winning public-private partnership working to prevent drunk driving and underage drinking in the Washington-metropolitan area. Through public education, innovative health education programs and advocacy, WRAP is credited with keeping the metro-Washington area’s alcohol-related traffic deaths consistently lower than the national average. WRAP, however, may best be known to area residents via the organization’s popular free cab ride service for would-be drunk drivers, SoberRide. For more information, visit WRAP’s web site at www.wrap.org.
