The Century Council is a leader in the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage alcohol.
Founded in 1991 and funded by distillers, we are a national, independent, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, chaired by the Honorable Susan Molinari. An independent National Advisory Board comprised of distinguished leaders in education, medicine, government, business, and other relevant disciplines assists us in the development of programs and policies.
We believe that collective action brings about lasting change. We work with all members of the community – law enforcement, public officials, educators, parents, and students – in our fight against drunk driving and underage drinking.
Since our inception, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased by 13%, and 30-day alcohol consumption among 8th graders, 10th graders, 12th graders, and college students has declined by 37%, 22%, 18%, and 13% respectively. While we cannot lay claim to all the progress, our contributions continue to make a strong impact in the fight against drunk driving and in delaying the onset of alcohol consumption by America's youth.
The distilled spirits industry has supported programs directed at the common goal of eradicating the misuse of alcohol and our member companies have a longstanding and continuing commitment to responsibility.
From funding the development of the breathalyzer in the 1940s to partnering with the National Institutes of Health to collect data and publish annual reports regarding the problems of alcoholism in the 1950s, the spirits industry played an active role in the fight against the misuse of alcohol. The spirits industry also funded 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 supporters of Students Against Driving Drunk, or SADD (now known as Students Against Destructive Decisions), the industry assisted in the creation of SADD chapters nationwide starting in the 1980's. Additionally, the industry co-sponsored the Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk campaign programs with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
We are proud to celebrate nearly two decades in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking.
Since our inception, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased by 13%.
In the 80's the industry co-sponsored the "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" campaign.