COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- While Halloween may be a time for trick or treating, any minor attempting to trick clerks by using fake IDs to buy alcohol -- today or any day -- will hear "no sale" thanks to a new partnership between the South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores (SCACS) and the state's 11 Anheuser-Busch wholesalers. During a press conference at the South Carolina Statehouse, SCACS President Brad Poe; Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Region 3 Senior Sales Director Bob Powers; and Budweiser of Columbia President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Kirkham announced the underage-drinking prevention initiative. The effort focuses on training convenience store clerks how to properly check IDs, as well as merchandising stores with "SCACS We ID" point-of-sale materials to remind consumers they will be asked to show a valid form of identification when purchasing alcohol beverages. Governor Mark Sanford, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, Attorney General Henry McMaster, State Senator Jake Knotts, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Police Chiefs Association and the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association have all endorsed the partnership as an effective way to address this important issue. "Our clerks are the front line in preventing sales to minors," said Poe. "This partnership with Anheuser-Busch to support server training and provide our members with a comprehensive array of 'We ID' point-of-sale and in-store signage offers us a common-sense deterrent to a statewide problem." Powers, who was integral in bringing the SCACS and Anheuser-Busch together for this important undertaking, praised Poe and the SCACS members for adopting and implementing the brewer's ID-checking tools. "Anheuser-Busch is an industry leader in fighting all forms of alcohol abuse, including underage drinking. Not only did Brad immediately agree to work with us, he decided to customize the material with the SCACS logo and tape an introductory message on the training video. By doing this, he is sending a clear message to all of his members that illegal underage drinking can and should be stopped." "Budweiser of Columbia and Anheuser-Busch have a history of forming partnerships with other community leaders to find sensible, effective solutions to issues. Like me, Brad and many others in the SCACS are parents who share the same concerns as other parents about underage drinking," said Kirkham. "All of us at Budweiser of Columbia are proud to assist the SCACS and its members in keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors." Governor Mark Sanford added his endorsement for the underage drinking prevention effort saying, "This is a fine example of team work for the good of everyone in the state. I applaud the South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores and Anheuser-Busch for joining forces in a very valuable initiative." "This collaborative effort between the state's convenience stores and beer distributors will send a strong message state-wide that we are doing what it takes to enforce the illegal underage drinking law," said Attorney General Henry McMaster. The SCACS "We ID" program consists of: -- A customized training video featuring an introduction by SCACS President Brad Poe that encourages retail employees to make the commitment to learn how to sell alcohol responsibly. -- TIPS training offered once a month by Anheuser-Busch wholesalers to members of the association. TIPS -- Training for Intervention Procedures -- provides strategies for preventing alcohol sales to underage or intoxicated patrons. The cost of this training is discounted to SCACS members. -- SCACS customized "We ID" cooler stickers, employee stickers, banners and other in-store signage reminding patrons that clerks will check for proper identification. The South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores is a trade association representing more than 1,500 retail and 275 supplier members and their business interests in the state of South Carolina. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 140,600 stores across the country, posted $495.3 billion in total sales in 2005, with $344.2 billion in motor fuels sales In 2005 alone, Anheuser-Busch's South Carolina wholesalers provided more than 591,800 wristbands and 1,500 "We ID" cards to help servers and sellers of alcohol beverages effectively identify those patrons of legal purchase age and stop sales to minors. More than 7,000 servers of alcohol have been trained by South Carolina wholesalers since 1989. Since 1982, Anheuser-Busch and its network of more than 600 wholesalers have invested more than a half-billion dollars in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking and prevent alcohol abuse, including underage drinking and drunk driving. The company ranked first in the beverage industry for social responsibility in Fortune magazine's 2006 list of "America's Most Admired Companies" and "Global Most Admired Companies" list. More information on Anheuser-Busch's responsibility efforts is available at http://www.beeresponsible.com/ . DATASOURCE: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. CONTACT: Leigh Faircloth of SCACS, +1-803-419-0804, or Donna Rodgers of Budweiser of Columbia, +1-803-799-5490, or Suzanne Sierra of Anheuser-Busch, +1-314-577-9860 Web site: http://www.beeresponsible.com/

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