Millercoors Free Rides™ Program Offers Free St. Patrick’s Day Bus Rides
MillerCoors today announced its partnership with the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) and Milwaukee Irish Fest to bring its annual St. Patrick’s Day MillerCoors Free Rides program to area residents. The program celebrates its 16th year in Milwaukee and will offer riders a safe alternative to driving drunk during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on Tuesday, March 17.
“Our objective of MillerCoors Free Rides is to ensure residents plan ahead for a safe ride to and from holiday festivities,” said Kim Marotta, vice president of corporate social responsibility for MillerCoors. “The St. Patrick’s Day MillerCoors Free Rides program is a longstanding tradition in Milwaukee and we thank riders who help keep the roads safe on this holiday and throughout the year.”
Free bus service will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, on all MCTS routes until the end of regular service. The program will provide free service to many popular holiday destinations, including restaurants, bars, local family events and neighborhood celebrations. Route and schedule information is available at www.MillerCoorsFreeRides.com or by calling 1-800-FREE RIDES (1-800-373-3743). Transit riders who use the program will also receive a “Restaurants Rewarding Responsibility” coupon from participating Milwaukee-area restaurants including Chili’s, Flannery’s, McGillycuddy’s, Applebee’s, Champps and TGI Friday’s.
“St. Patrick's Day is a popular holiday in Milwaukee and we know a lot of people will be celebrating,” said Anita Gulotta-Connelly, managing director of MCTS. “We appreciate MillerCoors sponsoring this program and encourage everyone to plan ahead and ride the bus for convenient and safe transportation.”
“More than one and a half million cars have been taken off the roads since the Free Rides program started 22 years ago,” said Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr., Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department. “We are pleased to support this community service program that helps keep our roads and communities safe on major holidays like St. Patrick’s Day.”
“Milwaukee supports a number of Irish cultural events, showing how important participating in St. Patrick’s Day is for people in the city,” said Jane Anderson, executive director of Milwaukee Irish Fest. “MillerCoors Free Rides is a great opportunity to remind residents about the safe transportation options for travel to and from these holiday events.”
MillerCoors Free Rides 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. In September 2008, the program received an award from the Wisconsin chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), recognizing MillerCoors for its community service through this program.
MillerCoors is dedicated to alcohol responsibility and the prevention of drunk driving year round. In addition to its efforts on St. Patrick’s Day, the company offers the MillerCoors Free Rides program on New Year’s Eve in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Madison, Wis. Also, MillerCoors partnered with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD), to offer Plan Ahead Colorado, a program which provides free light rail and bus service to Denver area residents on New Year’s Eve. For the first time, MillerCoors Free Rides will also be offered in Panama City Beach, Fl. for the entire month of March.
To further the prevention of drunk driving, MillerCoors also partners with 1-800-TAXICAB, a national taxi dispatch service, which automatically connects callers with local-area taxi companies. This St. Patrick’s Day, MillerCoors will provide cab vouchers to retailers for distribution to patrons as a safe transportation alternative in connection with company sponsored promotions in Denver, Co., Minneapolis, Mn., Scranton, Pa., Savannah, Ga., Chicago, Ill., Champaign, Ill., Providence, RI, Rochester, Ma. and Boston, Ma., and will support a designated driver program in San Diego, Ca.
MillerCoors Free Rides Program Supporters:
Beer Capitol of Wisconsin, Bluemound Road Business Advancement Association, Brady Street Area Association, East Town Association, Fighting Back, Inc., Historic Third Ward Association, IMPACT - Alcohol and other drug abuse services, Inc., Milwaukee County District Attorney, Milwaukee County Executive’s Office, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Safety Commission, North Water Street Tavern and Restaurant Association, PARC Task Force, Tavern League of Wisconsin, Westown Association, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, Wisconsin State Office of MADD and Wisconsin Trooper’s Association.
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 the Sparks line of alcohol beverages. 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.