MillerCoors Free Rides™ Program Offers Free Bus and Train Service On St. Patrick’s Day in the Twin Cities

MillerCoors today announced its partnership with Metro Transit to provide the annual St. Patrick’s Day MillerCoors Free Rides program for its 12th year in the Twin Cities. The St. Patrick’s Day MillerCoors Free Rides program will offer riders a safe transportation 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 the Twin Cities and we thank riders who help keep the roads safe on this holiday and throughout the year.”

The MillerCoors Free Rides program will offer free bus and train rides on Tuesday, March 17, starting at 6 p.m. through the last scheduled trip on routes operated by Metro Transit, the Met Council, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Plymouth Metrolink. Route and schedule information is available at www.MillerCoorsFreeRides.com or by calling 1-800-FREE RIDES (1-800-373-3743). The program will provide service to many popular holiday destinations, including restaurants, bars, local family events and neighborhood celebrations.

“This marks the 12th year we have been involved with the MillerCoors Free Rides program. It’s a great way to introduce people to the convenience of riding the bus and train, especially on popular holidays when many people are out celebrating,” said Brian Lamb, Metro Transit’s general manager. “We encourage everyone to make public transportation part of their St. Patrick’s Day tradition. Using free train and bus service helps ensure people get home safely.”

"We are proud to be involved in MillerCoors Free Rides this St. Patrick's Day,” said Billie Jo Erickson, MillerCoors marketing manager for J.J. Taylor Distributing. “We would like to encourage everyone to drink responsibly and plan ahead while celebrating the holiday.”

“The MillerCoors Free Rides program provides a great transportation alternative to help keep our communities safe during St. Patrick Day’s celebrations,” said Cheri Marti, Director of Traffic Safety for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

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), which recognized MillerCoors for its community service through this program.
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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 also offers the MillerCoors Free Rides program on New Year’s Eve in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Madison, Wis. Additionally, 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 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:
Hospitality Minnesota, J.J. Taylor Distributing of Minnesota, Inc., Minneapolis Downtown Council, Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day Association, Minnesota Beer Wholesalers Association, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department and Warehouse District Business 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.