American Beverage Institute
The American Beverage Institute is a restaurant industry trade group based in Washington, D.C. that lobbies on behalf of the fast food, meat, alcohol and tobacco industries. It describes itself as "dedicated to protecting the on-premise dining experience - which often includes the responsible consumption of adult beverages." ABI was set up in 1991 by Richard Berman, executive director of the public affairs firm Berman and Company.
The group sometimes sends letters or columns to newspapers arguing that laws that have been adopted to fight drunk driving are ineffective or inappropriate.[1] It supports a targeted approach to combating drunk driving that includes the use of roving patrols instead of sobriety checkpoints, and restricting use of ignition interlock technology to high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and repeat drunk drivers.[2] Sarah Longwell, ABI's managing director, argues in the Tampa Tribune that judges should be involved in the decision as to whether or not a low-BAC, first-time offender should have an interlock installed in his or her car.[3]
In 2013, ABI attacked the National Transportation Safety Board's proposal to persuade states to lower the blood alcohol limit.[4]
MADD founder joins ABI
In 1994, Mothers Against Drunk Driving founder, Candy Lightner, joined the American Beverage Institute. She said she supported laws punishing repeat offenders and those who drove after imbibing large amounts of alcohol, but not steadily reducing thresholds for breath tests which progressively lower amounts of social drinking.[5] In 2010, Lightner wrote a letter to an ABI executive thanking him for his continued support working "on legislation that would increase punishment for drivers who drive with a higher blood [alcohol] content."[6]
In 2013, Lightner opposed the lowering of the blood alcohol limit, opposing the National Transportation Safety Board's efforts to persuade states to do so.[7]
Websites
ABI manages several websites that outline its policies, listed below:
- http://www.interlockfacts.com
- http://www.nodrinktax.com
- http://www.negligentdriving.com
- http://www.thenewprohibition.com
- http://www.responsiblelimits.com
References
- ↑ Longwell, Sarah (July 22, 2008). "Phony drunken driving stats". philly.com, Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- ↑ "The American Beverage Institute". Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ↑ Longwell, Sarah (Jan 4, 2012). "The uncompromising campaign to end social drinking one law at a time". tbo.com, Tampa Bay Online. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ↑ http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/automobiles/299915-beer-trade-groups-skeptical-of-ntsb-recommendation-to-lower-blood-alcohol-limit
- ↑ Lewin, Tamar (1994-01-15). "Founder of Anti-Drunk-Driving Group Now Lobbies for Breweries". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
- ↑ "Letter from Candy Lightner to ABI". Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ↑ http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2013/05/28/madd-founder-dont-lower-the-legal-bac-limit
- Siceloff, Bruce (4 July 2006). "Road Worrier column: 'Booze It and Lose It' campaign seeks safer roads". The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- "American Beverage Institute names Shlemon prexy. (Steven T. Shlemon appointed)". Nation's Restaurant News. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
Mayer, Caroline E.; Amy Joyce (April 27, 2005). "The Escalating Obesity Wars. Nonprofit's Tactics, Funding Sources Spark Controversy". Washington Post. p. Page E01. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- "Oregon right to get tougher on drivers who are drunk. The pain of losing a child in an accident is not diminished because the drunken driver is a first-time offender. Drunken driving must be stopped before it occurs.". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. June 7, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-22.