E-Malt.com News article: USA: Anheuser-Busch commends Governor Schwarzenegger for signing bill to fight underage drinking

Anheuser-Busch today applauded California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing into law a bill aimed at keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors, in the company’s press release, October 15.

“We commend Governor Schwarzenegger, the bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, and members of the Legislature for taking this important step to help reduce underage drinking in the state by providing tougher penalties for would-be offenders,” stated Andrew Baldonado, region vice president of Government Affairs for Anheuser-Busch.

The legislation, A.B. 1658, contains a number of important provisions, such as increased penalties for teens caught purchasing or attempting to procure alcohol, possessing fraudulent identification, or manufacturing or selling false identification cards.

“This new law will complement the many programs our wholesalers currently implement to help prevent underage drinking and stop illegal alcohol sales to minors all across our state,” Baldonado added.

These community-based programs include: Operation I.D., which helps educate retailers on how to prevent sales to minors by spotting fake I.D.s; Family Talk, which encourages parents to talk with their children about underage drinking; and Prevent. Don’t Provide, which reminds adults not to buy alcohol for minors or provide it to them at parties.

Anheuser-Busch is currently celebrating a century of commitment to the Golden State and part of that commitment is promoting responsibility. Since 1982, the company and its 600 wholesalers nationwide, including the 44 in California, have led the alcohol beverage industry in promoting responsibility and respect for the law, having invested more than $675 million nationwide in alcohol awareness and education programs and partnerships.

In 2007, for the fourth year in a row, Anheuser-Busch ranked first in the beverage industry for social responsibility in FORTUNE magazine’s “America’s Most Admired Companies” and “Global Most Admired Companies.”


17 October, 2007