American Beverage Institute

The American Beverage Institute is a trade group based in Washington, D.C. that lobbies on alcoholic drink related issues on behalf of the restaurant industry. It describes itself as "dedicated to protecting the on-premises 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.[1]

Advocacy

The group sometimes sends letters or columns to newspapers arguing that laws that have been adopted to fight drunk driving are ineffective or inappropriate.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

In 2013, ABI announced its opposition to the National Transportation Safety Board's proposal to persuade states to lower the blood alcohol limit, citing the fact that lowering the limit is not among the most effective ways to stop drunken drivers.[5] Since then, ABI has continued to fight .05 laws in states where they are introduced.[6]

The most aggressive campaign against .05 legislation launched by ABI occurred in Utah during 2017 and 2018.[7] On top of penning op-eds critical of a lower legal limit for driving, the group also ran an advertisement titled "Utah: Come for Vacation, Leave on Probation."[8][9][10] Utah’s .05 law goes into effect at the end of 2018.[11]

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.[12] 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."[13]

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.[14]

References
  1. Levine, Sam (31 October 2014). "Rick Berman Encouraged Energy Executives To Use These Nasty Tactics On Environmentalists". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  2. 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.
  3. "The American Beverage Institute". Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  4. Longwell, Sarah (Jan 4, 2012). "The uncompromising campaign to end social drinking one law at a time". tbo.com, Tampa Bay Online. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  5. "Beverage group rips 'ludicrous' call from NTSB for lowered blood alcohol limit". 15 May 2013.
  6. "Why Alcohol Is Still the Most Dangerous Drug". www.governing.com. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  7. Montero, David (29 May 2017). "Liquor lobbying group declares war on Utah with ad campaign in neighboring states over strict drunk driving law - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  8. "Op-ed: Lower alcohol limit won't address the real safety problems". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  9. "Op-ed: Problems of lower alcohol limit are many, and the advantages are non-existent". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  10. "Utah bars fighting the state's strict new DUI law with fundraising and petition drive". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  11. Romboy, Dennis (2018-02-28). "Utah House committee rejects bill to delay .05% DUI law". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  12. Lewin, Tamar (1994-01-15). "Founder of Anti-Drunk-Driving Group Now Lobbies for Breweries". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  13. "Letter from Candy Lightner to ABI" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  14. Steven, Nelson (28 May 2013). "MADD Founder: Don't Lower the Legal BAC Limit". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 3 March 2023.

Further reading
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