(June 23, 2008) washington, DC – 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.The inscribed glass plate was presented to Congresswoman Roybal-Allard by Susan Molinari (shown right), who is the chairwoman of The Century Council, and a former Member of Congress.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has a long history of leadership in the fight to stop underage drinking.  

She is the author of the STOP Underage Drinking Act (P.L. 109-422), which was signed into law in December of 2006.  The STOP Act makes permanent an Ad Council national media campaign directed at parents that started in 2005, coordinates all federal programs and research initiatives on underage drinking, and provides grants to institutions of higher education, states and non-profit organizations to combat underage drinking in communities. The STOP Act also supports crucial research on the health effects of underage drinking and requires the federal government to produce an annual status report on underage drinking in our country.

In addition to her work to pass the STOP Underage Drinking Act, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard launched The Century Council’s We Don’t Serve Teens program during the Federal Trade Commission’s National We Don’t Serve Teens Week last fall.  She also hosted The Council’s Brandon Silveria Tells His Story and Tony’s Tips events at Downey High School in March and Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights in May. 

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. 

Through legislation, education, and public awareness campaigns, The Century 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.  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.