WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 15, 2010) - D.C. United fans will have an opportunity to serve as spokespeople for responsible behavior at their home game against the Chicago Fire at RFK Stadium on Saturday, April 17. D.C. United, Anheuser-Busch and TEAM Coalition are partnering to educate fans about the importance of using a designated driver, buckling up and demonstrating positive fan behavior. The message is simple: "Always Have a Designated Driver."

"Giving fans the opportunity to be the voice of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign personalizes the 'Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk' message," said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. "Teamwork is exactly what this campaign is all about, and through this program D.C. United is demonstrating that everyone - including the fans - plays an important role in alcohol management."

The designated-driver program is a key component of the responsibility initiatives that TEAM Coalition - an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, stadium service providers, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters and governmental traffic safety experts working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports facilities - helps coordinate with professional sports leagues including Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL).

"Tying Responsibility Has Its Rewards to our season-long Good Sport program makes for a winning combination," said Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. "We're pleased to work with D.C. United, TEAM and the other program partners to recognize fans who look out for each other and make a designated-driver part of their game plan. When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we're all part of the team."

The designated-driver program is one of several components of the alcohol management plan at RFK Stadium. In addition, alcohol management training for the venues employees give them the skills to observe fan behavior and serve alcohol beverages in compliance with local laws and in a manner designed to encourage responsible consumption. Alcohol service policies are enforced to ensure only fans of legal drinking age are served alcohol beverages. These combined efforts represent an alcohol management plan in which the fans, arena employees, corporate sponsors and team representatives all are working toward common goals - promoting responsible alcohol consumption, positive fan behavior and traffic safety.

"Over the past seven years, the Good Sport program has helped maintain the fun, family atmosphere that our fans have come to expect from attending D.C. United games," said Aprile Pritchet, Director of Community Relations for D.C. United. "This program is our pledge to the community that everyone attending a game at RFK Stadium will have a good time, but not at the expense of others."

Saturday, fans who pledge to be designated drivers will have a unique opportunity to show their dedication to D.C. United, because responsibility really does have its rewards.