Council is part of task force committed to reducing underage drinking through support of tough legislative agenda
The Distilled Spirits Council commended Attorney General Hardy Myers and the initiatives of the Oregon Underage Drinking Task Force this week following a press conference at the State Capitol. On hand to announce the Task Force's agenda were Attorney General Myers, First Lady Mary Oberst, Representative Phil Barnhart, Representative Tom Butler and Pam Erickson of the Oregon Partnership.
"Despite significant progress over the past 20 years, underage drinking remains a complex, societal problem that persists in communities across the nation," said David Wojnar, vice president of the Distilled Spirits Council, whose organization was a partner in the Task Force. According to a 2005 Oregon/PIRE study on underage drinking, an overwhelming majority of Oregon minors who drink get alcohol illegally from parents, friends or other social sources.
According to a 2005 Oregon/PIRE study on underage drinking, an overwhelming majority of Oregon minors who drink get alcohol illegally from parents, friends or other social sources.
"We look forward to working with all fellow members of the Task Force in this legislative process," Wojnar said. "Working together, we can make a difference." Wojnar noted that the Distilled Spirits Council has actively supported similar legislative efforts to reduce underage drinking in many states.
Wojnar further stated that the distilled spirits industry has a long history of working with communities nationwide to combat underage drinking and drunk driving. He cited, as examples, funding the development of the breathalyzer in the 1940's, co-sponsoring the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" public service campaign in the 1980's, and the work of The Century Council, a not-for-profit organization funded by America's leading distillers, which has programs available for communities, parents and other adults to fight underage drinking and drunk driving. For more information regarding The Century Council's programs, visit http://www.centurycouncil.org/.
DISCUS is the trade association representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States. More info is available at http://www.distilledspirits.org/.