‘Decide to Ride’ – first launched in September 2021 – returns this summer, leveraging new partners to expand the program’s reach and encourage consumers to plan ahead for sober rides during key summer holidays

May 24, 2022 – The country’s leading brewer, Anheuser-Busch, the nation’s largest drunk driving victim services and advocacy nonprofit, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and ridesharing platform, Uber, announced today the next phase of their joint ‘Decide to Ride’ campaign to help combat alcohol-impaired driving this summer.

Anheuser-Busch, MADD, and Uber first joined forces and launched the ‘Decide to Ride’ campaign in September 2021 in a groundbreaking coalition aimed at bringing an end to drunk driving by sharing a key message for consumers – “If You Drink, Don’t Drive. Decide to Ride.” Consumers who are aware of the campaign are over 40 percent more likely to use a ridesharing app to avoid alcohol-impaired driving, according to early internal campaign research developed by the coalition.

This summer, the coalition is continuing its efforts to prevent drunk driving — with a renewed focus around the major summer holidays, some of the most dangerous times of year on our roads. Kicking off on Memorial Day and extending through Labor Day, the coalition is teaming up with local transportation authorities and sponsorship partners, including professional sports teams and concert venues, to extend the reach of the campaign and encourage consumers to plan ahead for a safe ride home when drinking.

“With the increased risk of drunk driving during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it’s more important than ever to expand our Decide to Ride message across the United States,” said Colleen Lucas, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. “As consumers come together to raise a glass with family and friends this summer, we will leverage our local partnerships to encourage everyone to ‘Decide to Ride’ before they even take the first sip.”

“Summer is a time for travel, family get-togethers and so many fun experiences, and we at MADD want everyone to enjoy them safely,” said MADD national President Alex Otte. “Decide to ride if you plan to consume alcohol, whether it’s rideshare, public transportation, a taxi or a non-drinking friend or family member. If you drink, don’t drive.”

The campaign efforts will primarily focus on Denver, Colorado; St. Louis, Missouri; Buffalo, New York; Washington, D.C.; Houston, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Atlanta, Georgia while also mobilizing Anheuser-Busch’s network of more than 450 wholesalers nationwide to execute on-the-ground efforts in their communities.

In each market, the campaign leverages multiple touchpoints with consumers to raise awareness and provide opportunities to choose rideshare to prevent drunk driving – including digital, print and out-of-home advertising, event activations, signage at bars and restaurants, partnerships with Major League Baseball (MLB) and Live Nation venues in select cities, as well as locally available Uber discounts to help consumers plan ahead for a safe ride to and from summer holiday celebrations.

“Studies prove that Uber can help reduce drunk driving fatalities in our communities,” said Kristin Smith, Head of Road Safety Policy at Uber. “The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day - also known as the 100 Deadly Days of Summer - are an especially dangerous time of year for drivers, which is why the Decide to Ride campaign is more important than ever. We are proud to be doing our part to help end impaired driving by working with our partners to remind everyone to plan ahead for a sober ride home.”

ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH

At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in the world.  We hope to build a future that everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share.  For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most loved beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING (MADD)

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 400,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

ABOUT UBER

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 25 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.