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Landover, Md. -- The Washington Redskins are one of five NFL teams being recognized for their large number of fans pledging to be designated drivers at home games this season, the TEAM Coalition (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) announced today. The Redskins join the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, and the Detroit Lions in this prestigious ranking to help save lives on our nation’s highways.
“We want the game-day experience to continue to be safe and enjoyable for Redskins fans while they enjoy FedExField and as they travel home after the games,” said Mitch Gershman, chief operating officer for the Washington Redskins. “We’re proud of our fans’ commitment to responsible behavior and thrilled to reward them with such a great opportunity.”
Through the Anheuser-Busch Good Sport program, nearly 10,000 Redskins fans promised to refrain from drinking and be the designated drivers to get their friends and family home safely from the games played at FedExField this season. TEAM Coalition has been aggressively promoting the designated driver program at NFL stadiums since 2003 with a league-wide campaign called Responsibility Has Its Rewards. The campaign encourages fans to participate in designated driver programs supported by beer and concessionaire companies at every NFL stadium nationwide.
“We’re pleased to be able to recognize those teams whose fans show such a strong commitment to responsibility by volunteering to be the designated drivers for their parties on game day,” said Carol Clark, Anheuser-Busch vice president of corporate social responsibility. “When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
During the 2007 NFL season, nearly 120,000 football fans planned ahead and make the responsible, winning play by pledging to be designated drivers. This season, the league-wide total is 140,000 (an increase of 17 percent).
“This promotion is an opportunity for the NFL to show support for the teams’ efforts in coordination with the concessionaire, brewer and beer wholesaler to encourage responsible fan behavior,” said Jill Pepper, executive director of the TEAM Coalition. “And for the fans, it’s a great reminder that responsibility really does have its rewards.”
One lucky Redskins fan, Giles Cox, was selected by TEAM Coalition as the Redskins' Designated Driver for the Season. The Designated Drivers for the Season from the the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers will join their favorite teams at Super Bowl XLIII®, which will be played on Feb. 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Florida. The Designated Driver for the Season from the Seattle Seahawks won a trip to the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl® in Honolulu, Hawaii. The winner of the Pro Bowl prize was selected by TEAM Coalition through a random drawing after the NFC and AFC Champions were determined.
Fortunately, football fans join millions of other Americans in doing the “ride thing.” According to a national survey by TNS Custom Research Inc., nearly two out of three adults – more than 137 million Americans – have been a designated driver or been driven home by one.
TEAM Coalition – an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports facilities – coordinated Responsibility Has Its Rewards.
For more information, please visit www.TeamCoalition.org or
www.rhir.org.
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