Johnnie Walker® Scotch Whisky to Provide 450,000 KM of Safe Rides Home Around the World This Festive Season

LONDON, Dec. 4, 2015 Global responsible drinking initiative launched by Formula 1 stars Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso 

/CNW/ - What's one of the best gifts you can give a friend this holiday season?

A safe ride home.

With the festive season in full swing and friends planning nights out all around the world, Johnnie Walker^®, the world's leading Scotch whisky^[1], is encouraging people to make sure they get home safely by pledging to never drink and drive.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151204/293241 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151204/293240 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151204/293239 )

To launch its global festive responsible drinking campaign, Johnnie Walker today promised 450,000 kilometres of safe rides home around the world, in cities from Madrid to Sao Paulo and Edinburgh, for those who make a commitment to never drink and drive through its Join The Pact initiative. In addition, this year and starting in London, some people will have the opportunity to go one step further and experience the joy of festive giving by nominating a friend for a safe ride home.

Three Formula 1 world champions: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren Honda's Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso were joined by McLaren Honda Test Driver Stoffel Vandoorne at a 'Driving Spectacular' at London's Wembley Park. The drivers got behind the wheel to promote the 'never drink and drive' message. The event was also marked by the premiere of a powerful new Join The Pact film featuring Johnnie Walker Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen.

Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, Guy Escolme, said: "We're delighted to have Mika, Jenson, Fernando and Stoffel here today. Formula 1 is one of the most progressive and thrilling sports in the world - one that has proven, time and again, that those who bring passion, commitment, and a genuine love for the circuit will achieve the most."

He added: "More than 400 million fans tune in to F1 races worldwide. For ten years, our partnership with McLaren Honda has allowed us to reach this audience with our responsible drinking message and urge people to Join The Pact to never drink and drive."

Speaking at the event, Mika Häkkinen said: "The holiday season is a time when friends and families get together to celebrate and share gifts of thanks with each other. It's a time for parties and reunions and we want to make sure that those who are out celebrating with alcohol leave their cars at home.

"I strongly urge everyone to Join The Pact to never drink and drive. Some of those who make the commitment this year will be able to thank their friends with the gift of a safe ride home, thanks to a partnership between Johnnie Walker and UBER in the UK and other transport partners across the world."

Last year, Johnnie Walker announced its intention to gather five million Join The Pact commitments by 2018 and has since passed the halfway mark, with almost 2.6 million people having made a personal promise to never drink and drive.

McLaren Honda F1 driver Jenson Button said: "As racing drivers, we understand the importance of staying in control and never ever getting behind the wheel after consuming any alcohol.

"We're confident that people will get the message. Millions already have, and we want to encourage millions more to make a personal commitment to get home safely and Join The Pact by visiting jointhepact.com or by tweeting #JoinThePact to @JohnnieWalker_."

To view the new Join The Pact film from Johnnie Walker visit https://youtu.be/pOu8knYmMiY.

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1. International Wine and Spirit Record (IWSR) Value and volume data 2014

Notes to the Editor: 

For more event images from the Join The Pact 'Driving Experience' at Wembley Stadium in London visit Getty images http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyisports?nav=pr330195869:

Johnnie Walker^®, Join The Pact will deliver 450,000 kilometres of safe rides home in the following cities to include:

• London
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Leeds
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Portsmouth
• Merseyside area
• Glasgow
• Sheffield
• Edinburgh
• Madrid
• Sao Paulo
• Rio
• Recife

About Join The Pact  

Johnnie Walker places great importance on Responsible Drinking and tackles this issue through the Join The Pact campaign, with Mika Häkkinen as the Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador. Join The Pact asks consumers everywhere to make a commitment to never drink and drive through signing a pact. Since 2006 Mika has led this call-to-action initiative, which has been activated worldwide, collecting over 2.6 million signatures.

Mika has visited over 40 countries on five continents, spoken to countless media, government officials, stakeholders and consumers delivering important messages through unique Johnnie Walker experiences.

About Diageo 

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.  The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).  For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com.  Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

The JOHNNIE WALKER and JOIN THE PACT words, the Striding Figure device and associated logos are trademarks © John Walker & Sons 2015. 

Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly visit DRINKiQ.com

SOURCE Johnnie Walker