Anheuser-Busch Applauds Bills in Florida to Crack Down On Fake ID Mills.

Business Editors & Legislative Writers

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2002

Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD) Region Four Director, Michael M. Wolfe today praised Senator Locke Burt (R-Ormond Beach) and Representative David Russell (R-Spring Hill) for sponsoring legislation to crack down on manufacturers, distributors and sellers of fake ID's.

A vote is expected on S.B. 520 and S.B. 306 next week, and there has been overwhelming support for this legislation from government, law enforcement and industry. Florida's alcohol beverage retailing, beer wholesaling industries and brewer Anheuser-Busch in particular have come out strongly in support of this proposal because fake ID's are used by teens to attempt to illegally buy alcohol beverages. If passed into law, these bills would make it a felony to make and sell fake ID's. At present, it is illegal to possess equipment or supplies used to make fake ID's or to attempt to use a fake driver's license to buy alcohol beverages, tobacco or other age-restricted products.

"Shutting down fake ID mills is another important way that we can help prevent underage drinking by making it more difficult for those teens who attempt to break the law," said Wolfe. "Because the quality and availability of fake ID's has improved so dramatically, we need tougher laws to punish those who sell fake ID's or try to fool law-abiding retailers of alcohol beverages."

Recently, Wolfe noted, Anheuser-Busch has stepped up its efforts to support fake ID legislation. According to some reports, there are more than 100 websites that market fake ID's but states are only beginning to pass laws prohibiting their manufacture and sale. In addition, news reports claim that some bars and taverns in the U.S. routinely collect up to 10 fake ID's each week - collecting hundreds each year.

As part of its on-going efforts to prevent underage drinking, Wolfe said that Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers in Florida implement a wide range of educational efforts. "Last year alone, 44,000 Florida households received free materials which help parents talk with their children about underage drinking. In addition, retailers received more than 8,400 copies of booklets to help servers and sellers of alcohol beverages effectively identify those patrons of legal purchase age. And, more than 800 bartenders, waiters, waitresses, convenience store clerks and others received training in techniques to help them spot fake ID's and prevent sales to minors."

In addition, Anheuser-Busch also follows a voluntary College Marketing Code, which the company adopted in 1989. The Code addresses specific events such as Spring Break, he explained. Under the provisions of the Code, "...at Spring Break destination locations, Anheuser-Busch will not conduct beer advertising, event sponsorships or promotions on beaches or at other outdoor locations where most of the audience is reasonably expected to be below the legal purchase age."

These educational efforts, combined with the company's responsible marketing practices, he added, are what have helped significantly reduce underage drinking in Florida and other states. For example, 87% of Florida adolescents (age 12-17) are not current drinkers. In fact, Florida's adolescents have the 6th lowest drinking rate in the nation(a). In addition, total fatalities in Florida teen drunk driving crashes declined 30% since 1990 and 51% since 1982(b).

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., is the world's largest brewer and one of the largest theme park operators in the United States. The company is also a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and the world's largest recycler of aluminum beverage containers.

(a) Source: 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, U.S.

Department of Health & Human Services, 2001

(b) Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S.

Department of Transportation, 2001