This Fourth of July Holiday, MillerCoors, RMC Distributors and the Colorado State Patrol Partner With Designated Driver of Colorado Springs to Persuad

To encourage Colorado Springs residents and visitors to plan ahead and never drive drunk, MillerCoors and RMC Distributors are partnering with Designated Driver of Colorado Springs, in association with the "Heat is On" Colorado Department of Transportation Program and the enforcement activities of the Colorado State Patrol, to offer free rides home during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

"There is never a reason to get behind the wheel of a car when you have had too much to drink,” said Gene Girón, manager of alcohol responsibility for MillerCoors. “Through this partnership, our goal is not only to reinforce the importance of planning ahead but make sure that there is a safe alternative ride home.

“The opportunity to partner with Designated Driver of Colorado Springs organization and the Colorado State Patrol to keep the roads safer for everyone makes for a positive program to promote designated drivers,” said Girón.

“Designated Driver of Colorado Springs provides free rides through a network of volunteers," said Nonie Rispin, who created the Designated Driver of Colorado Springs organization. "Not only do we get people home safely, but we get them home safely in their own cars. All they have to do is call 719-650-3450. “Our goal is to eliminate the reasons why drivers sometimes make poor choices when they have been drinking,” said Rispin. “If the ride is free and their car is sitting in the driveway the next morning, what's left to think about?"

Designated Driver of Colorado Springs partners with 32 local establishments where they are on call Tuesday thru Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. year round. “Our goal is to raise enough community sponsorship so that drivers would be available 24/7 to keep everyone safer,” said Rispin. For more information: www.noduicosprings.com.

“The 4th of July weekend is a great time to get together with family and friends to celebrate,” said Colonel James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The efforts of MillerCoors and the Designated Driver of Colorado Springs program to keep our communities safe are extremely appreciated. We will be out throughout the holiday weekend to protect Colorado residents’ right to safe and sober roadways. Enjoy the holiday, but please remember to designate a sober driver and always buckle up.”

"At RMC Distributing we take our role in alcohol responsibility very seriously,” said Mike Pfalmer, RMC General Manager. “This partnership provides Colorado Springs residents with an alternative to driving drunk. Planning ahead and having a designated driver is always the right choice, and calling Designated Drivers of Colorado Springs (719-650-3450) offers assurance that you and your car can get home safely.”

As a grassroots community-sponsored program with volunteer drivers, Rispin said that Designated Drivers gave their first rides starting with New Year's Eve of this year and have given approximately 500 rides since then. The drivers work in two people teams. One driver gives the person a ride home in their own vehicle while the other follows in a chase car.

Designated Driver of Colorado Springs is one of several drunk driving awareness and prevention programs sponsored by MillerCoors. For example the ongoing “MillerCoors Free Rides” and “You Hold the Key Never Drive Drunk” designated driver programs encourage alcohol responsibility and the prevention of drunk driving. The Free Rides program has successfully helped prevent drunk driving throughout its 22 year history by taking more than 1.7 million cars off the road during key holidays. MillerCoors also partners with 1-800-TAXICAB, a national taxi dispatch service, to remind customers that there's always an alternative to driving under the influence. Locating a cab is easy; consumers dial the toll free number, and no matter where they are, the local taxi company will respond.

About MillerCoors
Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers. MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales. Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment. Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies. MillerCoors brews full-calorie beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light. The company also imports Peroni, Pilsner Urquell and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and Sparks. MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company. MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI and two microbreweries, the Leinenkugel’s 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver. MillerCoors vision is to become the best beer company in America by driving profitable industry growth. MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.