Diageo Applauds Maryland Governor O'Malley for Strong Leadership on Alcohol Policy Issues

Legislation Will Increase Penalties for Adults Who Enable Kids to Drink and Maintain Flavored Beer's Rightful Status as Beer

BALTIMORE, May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diageo applauds Governor O'Malley for signing Senate Bill 166/House Bill 76, meaningful underage drinking legislation that increases the maximum criminal penalty for furnishing or allowing underage consumption of alcohol, and for allowing Senate Bill 745, which clarifies Maryland's long-standing practice of classifying flavored beer as beer for taxation and regulatory purposes, to go into effect.

By increasing the penalties against adults who provide those underage with access to alcohol, Governor O'Malley took a positive step in the battle against underage alcohol use. The key to keeping alcohol away from kids is targeting their No. 1 source of alcohol: adults. A study conducted by The Century Council, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting underage drinking, found that 65 percent of teens who drink obtain the alcohol from adult family and friends.

Additionally, a report on underage drinking by the National Academy of Sciences echoed this finding and reports that youth generally obtain alcohol from adults, stating: "Parties, friends and adult purchasers are the most frequent sources of alcohol among college students and older adolescents, and younger adolescents also often obtain alcohol from family members." (Source: National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (2004). Reducing underage drinking: A collective responsibility. The National Academies Press. Washington, D.C.)

"Governor O'Malley exhibited sound judgment on these two issues of alcohol policy, both in recognizing that the key to combating underage drinking is addressing the adults who allow kids access to alcohol and in the classification of flavored beer as beer," said Dwayne Kratt, Senior Director, State Government Relations, Diageo North America.

Kratt continued, "By focusing on meaningful legislation that addresses the main source of alcohol to kids: adults who knowingly provide alcohol to children, we can make a difference. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with the Governor and the Maryland General Assembly on future legislation focused on preventing underage drinking."

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

Source: Diageo

CONTACT: Rachel Rosenblatt of FD for Diageo, +1-212-850-5697

Web site: http://www.diageo.com/

2008-05-21 22:10:54 0368345 PRNEWSWIRE