JULY 25, 2008 – The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers, hosted its sixth annual Congressional Awards luncheon on Capitol Hill today to honor select members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have shown an outstanding commitment to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen (D-VI) was one of 37 Members to receive the honor for her ongoing dedication.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, there were 17,602 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2006, and 2,642 of these fatalities were among youth under 21. Understanding the scope of this national epidemic, this year's award recipients joined The Century Council to help educate youth and their parents from middle school all the way up to college-aged students about responsible decision-making concerning beverage alcohol.
Congresswoman Christensen is dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. She is a cosponsor of HR 4453, the Underage Drinking Prevention Act of 2007. This sensible legislation would provide the resources necessary to aid state and local authorities to fight underage drinking, improve the collection and reporting of federal data on underage drinking, and encourage improved evaluation of federally funded underage drinking programs.
The Century Council is a not-for-profit organization funded by distillers including Bacardi U.S.A. Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands Inc.; DIAGEO; Future Brands LLC; Hood River Distillers Inc.; and Sidney Frank Importing Co. Inc. Through legislation, education and public awareness campaigns, the council promotes responsible decision-making regarding beverage alcohol, focusing on drunk driving and underage drinking. Since 1991, the companies that fund The Century Council have invested more than $175 million in its programs.
