Responsibility
The distillers’ efforts to encourage responsibility have spanned decades. The Distilled Spirits Council is proud of its longstanding commitment to social responsibility and will continue to lead the way in this important effort.
Within months of the repeal of Prohibition, leaders in the distilled spirits industry approved their first voluntary Code of Responsible Practices. Throughout the decades, the Distilled Spirits Council's Code of Responsible Practices has embodied the high standards and commitment to responsibility that have been the touchstone of DISCUS member company advertising practices.
For over 75 years, the Distilled Spirits Council has been committed to the elimination of drunk driving through education programs and the enactment of comprehensive drunk driving laws. Our history of responsibility includes anti-drunk driving PSA’s dating back to the 30s, funding the development of a breathalyzer in the 1940s, serving on the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving in the early 80s, and co-sponsoring with the Department of Transportation the highly successful "Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk" public service campaign in the 1980s that continues today. In addition, in 2001, DISCUS and The Century Council forged a coalition with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in support of a .08 BAC level coupled with comprehensive drunk driving measures.
According to the latest “Monitoring the Future” federal government statistics, alcohol consumption and binge drinking rates among 8th, 10th and 12th graders have continued their long-term decline, reaching historically low levels. While this is encouraging news, much more needs to be done and industry, parents and the entire community working together can continue to make a difference. Key to continuing this decline is positive parental involvement; early and persistent education; tough laws and strong enforcement.
According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy adult diet. As with all things, however, moderation and responsibility are key. The 2010 Guidelines define moderate drinking as consuming up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. The Guidelines define a standard drink as 1.5 ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol) distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol), or 12 ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol). Each of these standard drinks contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol. America’s distillers do not recommend that people drink alcohol for potential health benefits. Alcohol abuse can cause serious health and other problems and even drinking in moderation may pose health risks for some individuals.
The Century Council, launched in May 1991 and funded by America's leading distillers, promotes responsible decision-making regarding beverage alcohol and fights alcohol abuse, focusing on drunk driving and underage drinking problems.