Survey Results In: Americans Most Want to be Driven Home in a Hummer
by Designated Drivers of Choice Katie Couric and George Clooney
St. Louis, MO - December 11, 2005 - Hoping to help "drive home" the message of responsible celebrating this holiday season, Anheuser-Busch today released the results of its annual Designated Driver survey to kick off National Designated Driver Awareness Week. The survey found that most Americans (41%) would prefer to be driven home in a Hummer by their designated drivers of choice Katie Couric and George Clooney. In addition, according to the poll, respondents favor a sleigh ride by the Budweiser Clydesdales Hitch (45%) over a speedy ride in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 Chevrolet (27%) as their favorite mode of transportation.
"Especially at the holiday season, it's important for us to reinforce responsible behavior and encourage those who drink to use a designated driver," said John Kaestner, vice president of Consumer Affairs for Anheuser-Busch. "We'd also like to say thanks to the more than 140 million Americans who have been a designated driver. It's a great way to show others how much you care."
For the last 20 years, Anheuser-Busch has made it a goal to educate the public about its Designated Driver program through advertising, server training programs and its 'free cab ride home' offer, which since 1989 has provided more than half a million rides home.
Additional survey results include:
* Almost three-fourths (72%) of American adults ages 21 and older have been or have used a Designated Driver.
* Nearly all Americans (97%) are familiar with the concept of a Designated Driver.
* Those aged 21-44 have the most experience with the Designated Driver concept (46%), followed by those aged 45-54 (28%) and then 55-64 year olds (23%).
* "Jingle Bell Rock" won with 28% of the votes as the holiday song Americans would request their Designated Driver to play on their ride home. "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" came in a close second (25%) and third place was "Let it Snow" (17%).
* In addition to Katie Couric and George Clooney, Americans also chose Mariah Carey (18%), Tom Cruise (13%) and Orlando Bloom (8%) as their preferred Designated Drivers.
* After the Hummer, top picks for cars to be driven home in are a Mustang (18%), a Mini Cooper (12%) and a Corvette (10%).
National Designated Driver Awareness Week launches with full-page advertisements in USA Today, People Magazine and US Weekly, in tandem with nationwide radio promotions.
The designated driver survey was conducted from September 9-10, 2005 utilizing Random Digit Dialing procedures. The findings were based on telephone interviews with a representative sample of 991 Americans ages 21 and older.
For more information on designated drivers and responsible drinking programs visit