GM, MADD Targeted by Alcohol Industry

Angered by a successful national campaign to lower the legal blood-alcohol standard for drunk driving to .08 percent, the alcohol industry is not only attacking Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) but also some of its financial sponsors, specifically, General Motors (GM), the Detroit Free Press reported Feb. 24.

Organized by industry lobbyist Rick Berman and the American Beverage Licensees, the MADDatGM campaign is threatening to boycott GM cars over the company's support of MADD. The group plans to distribute posters and coasters characterizing MADD as a prohibitionist group that wants to criminalize all drinking, and tells its 17,000 bar, distributor, and liquor-store members that it should not buy GM products if the company continues to support MADD.

GM has donated about $3 million to MADD over the past three years and is one of the group's top corporate sponsors. "Our focus is on drunk driving and the 17,000 people killed each year by drunk driving on the highways," a GM spokesperson said in explaining the company's sponsorship of MADD.

However, GM's current five-year commitment to funding MADD ended in 2004, and the company hasn't decided about whether to fund the group in 2005 or beyond. The MADDatGM campaign is intended to influence the decision.

"We want to stop GM from contributing to MADD. We have a problem with GM money going to criminalize social drinkers. GM needs to recognize it is attacking legitimate businesses," said Berman.

"MADD has become nothing but a prohibition group. I think pressing GM is a small step, but it's the way to go," said Tom Brandel, owner of Tom's Oyster Bars in Michigan. "MADD has successfully changed the way people dine. They forced people in groups to have one person who can't drink at all, not even one glass of wine. That's just wrong. Accidents are caused by hard-core alcoholics, people who are really drunk but keep getting on the road."

MADD spokeswoman Heidi Castle rejected the prohibitionist charges leveled by Berman and others. "Our mission is to prevent drunken driving. We want people on the road that are safe. We are not against drinking by people who are over age 21. This group is just trying to scare people because of our effort to lower the blood-alcohol standard to 0.08," said Castle.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spokesperson Liz Nesbett added: "We have no problems with MADD. They are getting the word out about drunken driving. We and our partners like MADD have gotten the percentage of alcohol-related deaths down from 60 percent to 40 percent, which makes us feel better."

Editor's note: Mothers Against Drunk Driving has released this statement in response to the MADDatGM website:

"MADD believes this Web site is riddled with distortions and inaccuracies about our organization. This campaign does the public a disservice with its misinformation and scare tactics. MADD has never been against responsible drinking by those 21 and older and has 25 years of experience in helping to make the roadways safer for everyone.

"MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support victims and prevent underage drinking. When it comes to traffic safety issues, we are concerned with alcohol impaired driving. We recognize that any vehicle can be dangerous in the hands of a drunk driver. MADD owes it to our supporters to focus on those things that will have the most dramatic impact on saving lives and preventing injuries.

"This campaign is an effort to distract the public from the real issue: drunk driving continues to be a threat to all of us. Every half hour, someone is killed in an alcohol-related traffic crash. Instead of trying to deceive the public, we would like to see the companies behind this campaign support research-based, lifesaving initiatives that will make a positive difference and help protect the public."