BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diageo, the world's leading spirits, wine and beer company, is proud to support Brandon Silveria in his latest efforts to combat drunk driving. Silveria, who survived a drunk driving crash when he was a teen, will speak alongside his father, Tony, at this year's Republican National Convention Page Orientation in Bloomington, Minnesota. Brandon has traveled around the country to talk about his experience under the auspices of The Century Council, a nonprofit organization funded by some of the nation's leading distillers. The speech will take place on Saturday, August 30, at 4:30 PM at the Hilton Hotel.
"The audience at the Republican National Convention Page Orientation is an important one for Brandon because it gives him the opportunity to communicate his message to the leaders of tomorrow," said Joshua Sanders, Senior Director, State Government Relations, Diageo North America. "We hope that his message will inspire these young leaders while encouraging them to become more active and involved in the fight against underage drinking, while educating them on how to make legal, smart and safe decisions when it comes to alcohol. If they are under 21, the only choice is to say no."
Brandon Silveria was 17 when he endured a three-week coma resulting from a drunk driving crash. Since his rehabilitation, Silveria has devoted himself to speaking about his experience and encouraging people under the legal drinking age to make the right decisions about alcohol. Although his speech has been permanently impaired, Silveria's presentation delivers a resounding message on the dangers of underage drinking and drunk driving and has captivated audiences across the country.
Research commissioned by The Century Council reveals that 65 percent of underage youth who drink obtain alcohol from family and friends. Only 7 percent of youth report that they obtained alcohol from retailers who failed to check for identification.
Diageo is a founding member and major supporter of The Century Council, an organization committed to developing programs to combat drunk driving and underage drinking. These programs include "Ask, Listen, Learn," "We Don't Serve Teens" and "Cops in Shops." The Century Council also works with a broad array of education and prevention professionals on alcohol issues.
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, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading 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 http://www.diageo.com/.
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