Diageo Congratulates New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo for Implementing Stricter Drunk Driving Penalties

NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, August is the month with the highest number of fatal car accidents (2,838), underscoring the urgency of cracking down on all kinds of dangerous driving behaviors.  Diageo, an industry leader in promoting responsible drinking, applauds New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for strengthening penalties for drivers with multiple Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenses, in an effort to keep our nation's roads safer. 

Specifically, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed "Vince's Law" on August 1, 2014. The bill amends current law by extending the time frame in which multiple DWIs can be considered to automatically invoke a felony.  Vince's Law now raises the penalty levels for offenders who commit three or more DWI-related offenses within 15 years, with a maximum determinate prison sentence of up to seven years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  Previously, such repeat offenses might not have been prosecuted as a felony at all. Vince's Law was named for Vincent Russo, an 82-year old resident of Onondaga County who was killed in 2011 by a driver who had five previous DWI-related convictions. 

"Diageo has a zero tolerance policy toward drunk driving, and we implore elected officials across the country to pass meaningful legislation that enforces more severe penalties for hardcore and repeat drunk drivers," said Guy L. Smith, Executive Vice President of Diageo, North America. "We thank Governor Cuomo and the New York Legislature for responding to our plea to keep New Yorkers safe and get repeat drunk drivers off the road."

With the signing of other strengthened DWI regulations in 2012, New York now has some of the strictest protections in the nation against individuals who persistently drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.   Last June, the Governor announced that at that time, nearly 3,200 drivers with a history of repeat alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions had been kept off the roads in New York since the new regulations took effect.

Diageo has a strong history of innovative partnerships and programs that support the company's commitment to combating alcohol misuse, raising consumer awareness and setting and maintaining world class standards in responsible marketing. The company promotes the responsible consumption of alcohol by those adults who choose to drink and has supported more than 300 programs to tackle alcohol misuse in 49 countries.  For more information on Diageo's efforts in combating alcohol misuse, please visit DRINKiQ.com  

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Guinness, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards Wines.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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SOURCE Diageo