Statement From American Beverage Institute On New MADD President

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The following letter was sent to new MADD National President Glynn Birch by American Beverage Institute Executive Director John Doyle.

Dear Mr. Birch,

The American Beverage Institute, an association of America's leading family restaurants, would like to congratulate you on becoming the National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The hospitality industry has worked closely with MADD in the past-a partnership that resulted in tremendous declines in drunk driving, boiling the problem down to what your predecessor Katherine Prescott described as "a hard core of alcoholics who do not respond to public appeals."

This analysis has been confirmed by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jeffrey Runge, who stated that today's drunk driving problem is "by far and away" made up of "those who have alcohol use disorders." In fact, NHTSA data show that the average drunk driver in a fatal crash has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .19% -- more than twice the legal limit. To continue making progress in the war on drunk driving, everyone concerned with traffic safety must focus on this hard core product abuse.

Unfortunately, it is well established that these egregious drunk drivers routinely avoid high visibility PR efforts like roadblocks. We therefore urge you to join us in working to create an increased focus on roving patrols, which a NHTSA study found is almost three times more effective at arresting drunk drivers. And as everyone knows, getting drunk drivers off the road translates into lives saved.

The hospitality industry is dedicated to preventing and fighting drunk driving, and we look forward to working with you in furthering our common concern: saving lives.

  Sincerely,

  John Doyle
  Executive Director

The American Beverage Institute is an association of family restaurants committed to the responsible serving of adult beverages. For further information, visit http://www.americanbeverageinstitute.com/ or call 202.463.7110.