Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. and the National Center for DWI Courts Support Nevada...

Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:23pm EST

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Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. and the National Center for DWI Courts Support Nevada DUI Courts

Nevada Legislation Authorizes DUI Courts to Convict and Treat
Drunk Driving Offenders
DEERFIELD, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. (Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)),
a global leader in premium spirits and wine, and the National Center
for DWI Courts (NCDC) joined forces today to raise awareness about the
effectiveness of DUI Courts in Nevada, where state legislators
recently passed a law to establish additional DUI Courts. With more
than 17,000 people killed by drunk drivers every year, Beam Global and
NCDC have partnered together since 2007 to bring national attention to
the effectiveness of DUI Courts in reducing the recidivism rate of
offenders. DUI Courts deal with hardcore and repeat drunk driving
offenders by providing long-term, ongoing accountability and
rehabilitation, in addition to conviction.

DUI Court judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials
assembled to support the expansion of DUI Courts in Nevada. NASCAR(R)
driver and team owner Robby Gordon joined Beam Global CEO Tom Flocco
in thanking Nevada state legislators for their support and to
acknowledge the life-saving efforts of DUI Courts.

"Beam Global Spirits & Wine is committed to eliminating drunk
driving," said Tom Flocco, president and CEO, Beam Global Spirits &
Wine, Inc. "We support programs that reduce drunk driving and are
committed to working with any state willing to help save lives by
establishing more DUI Courts. Nevada's pilot DUI Court illustrates the
effectiveness of this program. We encourage others join us in support
of NCDC and the fight to eliminate hardcore drunk driving."

"We are pleased that Nevada has had great success with DUI Courts
and applaud state legislators for passing Senate Bill 277," stated
West Huddleston, executive director of the National Center for DWI
Courts and the chief executive officer of the National Association of
Drug Court Professionals. "The Nevada DUI Court pilot program has
proven that blending long-term treatment with the accountability,
immediacy and certainty of court response works more effectively than
punishment alone. We hope to build on that success by raising
awareness for DUI Courts in Nevada and throughout the country."

Clark County, Nevada established a pilot program with one DUI
Court in its jurisdiction eight years ago. Nearly 400 offenders have
successfully completed the program. Of those who successfully
graduated, only 12 percent had a repeat drunk driving offense within
three years of their graduation.

"Nevadans have seen first hand that DUI courts are an effective
way to punish those who break the law and to deter drunk drivers by
targeting repeat offenders and individuals with high BAC levels.
Expanding this effort, along with programs to teach drivers about the
dangers of impairment, are two ways that we can make America's roads
and highways safer. As co-chair of the Congressional STOP DUI caucus,
I applaud the men and women of law enforcement and our courts for
protecting the public and for their support of efforts to prevent
drunk driving," said Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV).

"I am very pleased that Nevada has been so committed to the
expansion of DUI Courts in the state," said Jon Porter (D-NV),
co-chair of the STOP DUI caucus. "Individuals who have driven under
the influence of alcohol, or driven while impaired, have taken
thousands of lives and shattered so many families. As public
officials, it is our responsibility to reduce drunk driving incidents
and this is a huge step in the right direction."

"We need to keep our roads safe from drunk drivers," commented
Nevada State Senator Valerie Wiener (D-NV). "Hardcore drunk drivers
are causing the vast majority of alcohol related traffic fatalities
and we need to address this severe form of drunk driving head on. I am
proud to have been the sponsor of legislation supporting Nevada's DUI
courts and their efforts to protect our community."

"DUI Courts are saving lives," stated Chief Judge Kathy A.
Hardcastle, Eighth Judicial District Court. "Nevada is a powerful
example of how effective DUI Courts can be. On behalf of other DUI
Court judges, we would like to thank Nevada legislators for supporting
this program. We encourage other states to follow Nevada's lead in
establishing more DUI Courts."

"I am truly impressed with the results of DUI Courts to reduce
drunk driving," commented Robby Gordon. "I would like to offer my
appreciation to Beam Global for supporting the National Center for DUI
Courts and for including me in their efforts to help raise awareness
for this life-saving program. I thank Nevada legislators for their
efforts in expanding DUI Courts throughout the state and encourage
other states to follow Nevada's lead."

Beam Global and the National Association of Drug Court
Professionals (NADCP) partnered in May 2007 to launch the National
Center for DWI Courts, which focuses solely on hardcore and repeat
drunk driving offenders. Beam Global is in its second year working
with NCDC to help raise awareness about the effectiveness of DUI
Courts. In 2007, 25 states established 29 DUI Courts to address
hardcore drunk driving.

Beam Global is also a primary contributor to The Century Council,
a not-for-profit organization that is funded by leading distillers and
dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. The Century
Council promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage
alcohol and discourages all forms of irresponsible consumption through
education, communication, research, law enforcement and other
programs. More information about The Century Council can be found at
www.centurycouncil.org.

Editor's Note: For event images, contact nchardavoyne@qorvis.com.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:

Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits &
Wine, Inc., is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers
from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim
Beam(R) Bourbon, Sauza(R) Tequila, Canadian Club(R) Whisky,
Courvoisier(R) Cognac, Maker's Mark(R) Bourbon, Laphroaig(R) Scotch
Whisky, Larios(R) Gin, Whisky DYC(R), Teacher's(R) Scotch Whisky,
DeKuyper(R) Cordials and Liqueurs, Knob Creek(R) Bourbon and
Starbucks(TM) Liqueurs. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune
Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company with annual
sales exceeding $8 billion. For more information on Beam Global
Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social
responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and
www.drinksmart.com.

About The National Association for Drug Professionals:

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), a
not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1994 by a group of
visionaries to reduce the negative social impact of substance abuse,
crime, and recidivism by:

-- promoting and advocating for the establishment and funding of
drug courts, DWI courts and other problem-solving courts;

-- providing for the collection and dissemination of information;

-- providing training, technical assistance and mutual support to
courts nationwide

Within its short 13-year history, NADCP has become the premier
national training and advocacy organization for over 1,900 drug and
DWI courts nationally by:

-- serving as the only national organization representing over
19,000 multi-disciplinary drug court professionals before
federal and state lawmakers;

-- annually hosting approximately 130 court training and
technical assistance events that have benefited thousands of
court practitioners;

-- writing, publishing, and disseminating scholastic and
practical publications that are critical to the ongoing growth
and fidelity of the drug court model; and

-- creating a vision of a reformed criminal justice system by
impacting policy and legislation.

drink smart(R)

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.
Matt Stanton, 202-549-0290
matt.stanton@beamglobal.com
or
Qorvis Communications
Nicole Chardavoyne, 202-306-7139
nchardavoyne@qorvis.com