"Illinois drunk-driving fatalities are down 38 percent since 1982, but the holiday season has the potential for an increase in drunk-driving related crashes. These types of crashes are absolutely preventable," ISP Director Larry Trent said, "This initiative with Anheuser-Busch to reinforce safety messages provides an excellent opportunity to help save even more lives this holiday season."

Anheuser-Busch will provide outdoor billboards featuring ISP Troopers Brian Anderson and Margaret Madrigal, with the message, "Thanks to You... Seat Belts & Designated Drivers Save Lives."

Anheuser-Busch's Senior Director of Consumer Awareness & Education Carol Clark said, "We're pleased to continue our work with the Illinois State Police on this important initiative. We share the same goals -- to save lives and prevent drunk driving. This proactive initiative allows each of us to be part of the solution, helping further reduce fatalities in drunk-driving crashes."

The 32 Anheuser-Busch wholesalers that serve Illinois are working closely with the ISP to implement the campaign. Initially, 41 billboards will be placed along state interstates and highways, with more to be added throughout the holiday season. Posters featuring other ISP Troopers will be used to reinforce the safety message throughout the year.

The public safety campaign is part of Governor Blagojevich's administration's ongoing, statewide campaign to reduce fatalities and injuries on the state's highways. On July 3, 2003, the Governor signed into law three new traffic safety bills, which - according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) - made Illinois the first state in the nation to enact all three provisions in the same year. The legislation improved state statutes concerning seat belts, booster seats and teen passenger restrictions.

Illinois State Police Director Trent commended Anheuser-Busch for its continued support of the ISP's commitment to preventing drunk driving. "We are grateful for Anheuser-Busch's efforts. The company and its wholesalers' ongoing work to fight drunk driving fits very well with Illinois' ongoing educational safety efforts. Working together, we can reach more people with messages that we hope will make it a safer holiday season across our state."

Anheuser-Busch and its team of more than 600 distributors have invested nearly $500 million over the past two decades on a comprehensive portfolio of more than two dozen community-based programs and national advertising campaigns to fight alcohol abuse, underage drinking and drunk driving, and to promote responsible drinking by adults who choose to drink. More information is available at www.beeresponsible.com and www.designatedriver.com.