ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Total Wine & More, America's largest independent retailer of fine wine, spirits and beer, and The Century Council, the non-profit leader in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking, have teamed with Tampa Bay-area community organizations to educate and inform residents about responsible alcohol consumption during the upcoming holiday season.  Total Wine, The Century Council, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance are co-sponsoring the community outreach effort to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive drinking and to encourage Tampa Bay residents to pledge to be a responsible party host and guest.

The pledges, which can be made online at www.totalwine.com/community or at any of Total Wine's three Tampa Bay-area stores located at Walter's Crossing in Tampa, Courtyard at Countryside in Clearwater or Park Street Center in St. Petersburg, encourage holiday party-goers to provide food when alcoholic beverages are served, offer guests non-alcoholic beverages, prevent anyone under 21 from obtaining alcohol, be a designated driver or have an alternative transportation plan and model responsible drinking for others.  Total Wine & More will donate $1 to the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance for every pledge made in-store or online.

"The goal is to raise customer awareness substantially about the importance of responsible consumption during the holiday season," said Matt Indre, Total Wine & More's senior manager of public affairs and co-architect of the outreach effort.  "With alcohol related incidents on the rise during the holidays, understanding what each of us can do to be responsible party hosts and guests is the best way to ensure a safe and happy holiday for everyone."

The in-store and online awareness campaign culminates with an education expo, hosted by Total Wine and The Century Council, at the Total Wine & More store in St. Petersburg – 4880 Park Street, North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33709 – on Monday, December 3^rd from 1:00pm until 4:00pm.  Total Wine team members will be dressed in brightly colored "Pledge T-Shirts" and the expo will feature information on hosting a responsible holiday party, setting up a designated driver program and a DUI goggle demonstration by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

About Total Wine & More
Total Wine & More operates 87 wine superstores in 13 states, with expansion reaching 14 states by the end of 2012.  The company's vast selection of products, combined with low everyday prices and expertly trained wine associates, brings a unique shopping experience to the customer.  Total Wine & More has the distinction of being Beverage Dynamic's 2008 Wine Retailer of the Year, Market Watch's 2006 Retailer of the Year, and Wine Enthusiast's 2004 Retailer of the Year.  Since opening its first store in 1991, Total Wine & More has been committed to being the premier wine retailer in every community that it serves.  Additional information and stores locations are available at www.totalwine.com.

About The Century Council
The Century Council is a leader in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking and promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage alcohol. Founded in 1991 and funded by distillers, The Century Council is a national, independent, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.  An independent National Advisory Board comprised of distinguished leaders in education, medicine, government, business, and other relevant disciplines assists the organization in the development of programs and policies.  The Century Council works with all members of the community – law enforcement, public officials, educators, parents, and students – in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking.  More information is available at www.centurycouncil.org.

SOURCE Total Wine & More