China Daily Global Edition (USA)
AB InBev promotes safe driving on Chinese roads
Giant brewer launches program aimed at reducing harmful use of alcohol in Shanghai
in Shanghai.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/ NV, the world’s biggest brewer by sales, has launched a program aimed at reducing the harmful use of alcohol in Shanghai to promote safe driving on China’s roads.
AB InBev cooperated with Shanghai Traffic Police Corps, the China Alcoholic Drinks Association and the Shanghai Traffic Engineering Association to start the program “Zero Illegal Acts, Zero Drunk Driving,” which also featured the premiere of Budweiser’s 2016 public service film, Nothing to Chance.
Chinese tennis players LiNa and Jiang Shan, Budweiser’s new Smart Drinking Ambassadors, attended the event alongside other actors from the film and 200 volunteers. These attendees held “Smart Drinking” signs, encouraging the public to be smart drinkers.
The name Li Na is synonymous with tennis, but apart from her fame on the tennis court, she has devoted herself to public service. To add to Li’s extensive public service work, in 2016 she took on the role of Leave executive producer of Budweiser’s Smart Drinking themed public service film, and also starred in the film.
Told from the perspectives of celebrities, lawenforcement officials, victims of drunk driving, and drivers, Budweiser’s public service film tells four true stories and testimonies of “Leave Nothing to Chance”.
Road traffic accidents are the eighth leading cause of death worldwide and the biggest cause of death for people aged between 15 and 29, according to the UN World Health Organization, which estimates that road traffic accidents will become the fifth cause of death by 2030 if nothing is done to improve driving safety.
Wang Meigen, deputy commissioner of the Shanghai Traffic Police Corps, said that the reason for rolling out this “Zero Illegal Acts, Zero Drunk Driving” program is to further solidify progress in deterring traffic violations, especially drinking and driving.
As part of the program, Shanghai Traffic Police Corps will step up efforts to stop drunk driving citywide, including the implementation of random checkpoints at locations and times with high occurrences of driving under the influence, as well as the broadcasting of live incidents.
Meanwhile, the written test for obtaining a driver’s license in Shanghai will now include content aimed at enhancing drivers’ awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.
Jean Jereissati, president of AB InBev, said for the past nine years, AB InBev has been consistently advocating responsible drinking in China, and enjoyed the support of relevant government administrations and consumers in its efforts to do so.
“We are proud to upgrade our message of ‘Responsible Drinking’ to ‘ Smart Drinking’. We hope that by fostering a smart drinking culture, consumers are encouraged to change their behaviour through social norms and make right choices at all times,” said AB InBev President Jereissati.