For over 65 years, the distilled spirits industry has initiated and supported programs directed at the common goal of eradicating alcohol abuse. In particular, the companies that fund The Century Council have a longstanding and continuing commitment to encouraging responsible consumption by those adults who chose to drink.
From funding the development of a breathalyzer in the 1940s to partnering with the National Institutes of Health to collect data and publish annual reports regarding the problem of alcoholism in the 1950s, the spirits industry has always played an active role in the fight against alcohol abuse. The spirits industry funded the independent development of alcohol education source books in the 1960s.
During the 1970s, in partnership with the National Football League and the Education Commission of the States, the distilled spirits industry co-sponsored national television and radio messages to help parents educate young people about responsible decision-making. As one of the early sponsors of Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), the industry assisted in the creation of SADD chapters nationwide starting in the 1980s. Additionally, the industry co-sponsored the "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" campaign programs with the United States Department of Transportation.
Recognizing that there is power in collective action and continuing nearly a century of corporate responsibility, America's leading distillers created The Century Council in 1991 as a national, not-for-profit organization. The Council is proud to recognize over ten years in its fight against drunk driving and underage drinking.
