MEDIA CONTACTS: Katherine Tait Jacqueline Burton 702/278/6848 201/888/3352 katherine@sencenectar.com jburtonluch@gmail.

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Beverage Industry Leaders Take a Stance on Drinking and Driving Designated Driver Program Developed to Protect Communities

Las Vegas, NV, January 30, 2013 During the upcoming Nightclub & Bar Convention, March 19th - 21st in Las Vegas, leaders of beverage companies will launch a pilot program developed to set by example a practical solution to a deadly problem: drinking and driving within the hospitality industry. The name of the program is K.E.Y.S., an acronym for Keeping an Eye on Your Safety. The program was conceived by Women Executives in the Beverage Industry (W.E.B.I.). It draws attention to the absence, in most cases, of protective measures to ensure the safe passage of hospitality employees participating in industry-sponsored events from the venue to the employees domicile. Several events during the week of March 17 will demonstrate the use of alternatives to drinking and driving, not just in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, but in cities across America. Las Vegas was chosen for the launch to showcase it to attendees of the Night Club & Bar Convention because it is the most comprehensive beverage industry event in America. Event partners participating in the K.E.Y.S. project include Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, Wirtz Beverage of Nevada, Social Mixology and AWG transportation services. It is expected that through the program, local residents participating in events sponsored by Southern Wine, Wirtz or Social Mixology will receive a voucher for transportation services from and to their residence. For these individuals, this will eliminate the possibility of any alcohol-related collisions. The long-term goal for WEBI is to increase awareness and encourage responsibility with beverage employees, managers and owners alike. The pilot will demonstrate that sensible consumption coupled with dependable transportation saves lives, increases worker productivity and reduces the crisis of alcohol endangerment. Once this has been revealed in Las Vegas, it will provide the organization a performance indicator enabling it to replicate the program in communities across the nation. Fifteen percent of alcohol-related injuries nationwide involve hospitality workers, the highest of any employment sector. Billions of dollars in worker productivity is lost each year due to the variety of alcohol consumption consequences. -More-

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Its time that we introduce new ways to educate, protect and resolve, and set an example for our employees, our communities and ultimately, all our end users, stated Katherine Tait, founding member and chairwoman of W.E.B.I. The first phase of the K.E.Y.S. initiative sets up baseline criteria) to be observed at industry-sponsored activities. Recommendations include: Constructing a multi-tiered workplace-based training program to ensure hospitality employees are fully informed about the social and legal hazards of drinking and driving; Publicizing access to alternative forms of transportation in conjunction with an event; Arranging for discounted or free accommodations coupled with events worked; and Providing multi-modal transportation services to and from rural events.

The second phase of the project establishes a third-party designated driver program underwritten by companies and individuals who are traditionally impacted by the high number of alcohol-related vehicular incidences. Included in this growing list are insurance companies, medical groups, attorneys and transportation companies. WEBI was founded in 2011 to provide a stage documenting and illuminating the appreciable role women play in the financial success of the global beverage industry. Within a few months of its inception, W.E.B.I. was confronted with the reality that alcohol is the bread and butter of our businesses, but that irresponsible consumption by industry employees could be its demise. A nearly fatal crash of one of its founding board members brought home the realization that companies requiring their workforce to promote and engage in consumption to increase sales should simultaneously provide constructive safeguards as well. The responsibility for outcomes should be shared, said Tait. Some spirit distributors have commendable programs in place that provide transportation for employees and consumers at sponsored beverage events. But, the time has come for those mechanisms to be adopted industrywide. To learn more please visit http://www.1webi.org or contact either Ms. Tait or Ms. Burton directly about becoming a sponsor.

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