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Drink Driving

In the first year of the Pledge The Brewers of Europe finalised its drink driving toolkit which laid out the background to drink driving and the elements to consider when developing drink drive campaigns. On the basis of existing good practices, the toolkit also described the different options for action, emphasising in particular the importance of working with the right partners to help maximise the outcomes of initiatives to reduce drink driving and thereby help to cut the numbers of road accidents, injuries and fatalities provoked by drink driving.

Notable over the course of the implementation of the Beer Pledge has been the increase in the number of campaigns integrating non-alcoholic beer, promoted as a positive alternative for drivers who wish to drink beer but not alcohol. Such campaigns also offer up clear examples of where harm reduction and commercial success coincide, with the brewing sector also further investing and innovating in the non-alcoholic side of the beer market to offer products appreciated by consumers. Most of these campaigns also have third party endorsement and support, including from governments.

Interview of Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director, ESTC, European Transport Safety Council during the event celebrating 10 years of the European Beer Pledge.

As announced in the first year report, The Brewers of Europe also agreed a partnership with the premier EUwide NGO on road safety, the European Transport Safety Council, a member of the EU Alcohol and Health Forum alongside The Brewers of Europe. Launched in the European Parliament in September 2013 with an event looking at workplace initiatives to address drink driving, the SMART project has continued with national events in Rome, Madrid, London, Prague and Warsaw. The national events gather experts both locally and from across the EU to raise awareness on effective measures to curb drink driving and have included support and representation from governments, NGOs and road safety campaigners, together with the brewing sector.

Additionally three case studies have been put together by ETSC looking at drink drive laws in Scotland, the use of alco-locks in public transport in Denmark and the introduction of alco-gates at ports in Sweden. Finally, bi-annual drink drive monitor newsletters are distributed amongst key stakeholders in Brussels to raise awareness on the latest developments around drink driving policies and campaigns, whilst an alcolock barometer is used to track take up of the measure through trials, voluntary measures or as a legal tool. The SMART program, whose first three years will culminate with an event in Brussels in October addressed by the EU’s Transport Commissioner, is the only joint commitment by an EU-wide NGO and an EU-wide industry association in the EU Alcohol and Health Forum.

Below are further examples of other activities conducted by companies and associations to address drink driving across the EU

Drink Aware Malta

Owners : Sense Group
Stakeholders : Ministry for Social Affairs Foundation for Social Welfare Services

European Night Without Accidents

Owners : Croatian Chamber of Commerce Association of Beer, Malt and Hop Producers
Stakeholders : The Croatian Brewers also support the European Night Without Accidents, with the initiative taking place in 10 nightclubs across the Croatia in October 2015

Moderation Matters

Owners : Sense Group
Stakeholders : Road Safety Council Malta Bartenders Guild General Retailers Trade Union

No Alcohol when driving

Owners : Asociatia Berarii Romaniei
Stakeholders : Ministry of Internal Affairs The Road Directorate within the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police Petrom/ OMV gas station network National Audiovisual Council

Pass the Wheel When You Drink

Owners : Asociatia Berarii Romaniei
Stakeholders : Ministry of Internal Affairs Road Traffic Police Authority General Police Inspectorate of Romania National Audiovisual Council

Responsibility Day

Owners : Slovenské Združenie Výrobcov Piva a Sladu
Stakeholders : Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (PHASR) Police Headquarters of the Slovak Republic Road Traffic Safety Department of the Ministry of Transport Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic (BECEP)

Stay fresh

Owners : AB InBev
Stakeholders : Police of Central and West-Brabant Safe Traffic Netherlands (Breda) Peutax

The online Responsible Drivers Club

Owners : Browary Polskie
Stakeholders : Parliamentary Group for Road Safety Polish Motor Transport Institute (ITS) European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) National Police HQ