[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF COORS BREWING COMPANY

 Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
great American company, one that will be celebrating its 125th 
Anniversary next month. The success of Coors Brewing Company is a great 
American story. When Adolph Coors arrived in this country in 1868, he 
did not speak English, but he did know how to brew a great beer.
  From 1873 until today, Coors has made its reputation on the lasting 
values of its founder. The American values tradition, commitment, 
quality, and innovation have long been a part of this history. Holding 
steadfast to these values has helped Coors grow from a tiny local 
brewery in Golden, Colorado into a world-class competitor producing 
more than 20 million barrels of beer each year. Today, Coors' familiar 
products are sold not only across the United States, but in 45 foreign 
countries as well.
  Through the years, Coors has been at the forefront of responsible 
community involvement, and today it is recognized as a leader in 
corporate citizenship. That is why Business Ethics magazine recently 
placed Coors in the top ten of its ``The 100 Best Corporate Citizens.'' 
Coors also has been cited numerous times for its outstanding record in 
attracting, hiring, and promoting minority Americans. It is what you 
would expect, given Coors' record of investing hundreds of millions of 
dollars in economic development and other programs designed to 
strengthen Hispanic and African-American communities.
  When you do business in Colorado, respect for the environment is, of 
course, a must. Coors is a leader in this area as well. Coors launched 
the aluminum recycling revolution back in 1959 when it began offering a 
penny for every returned can. Since 1990, the Coors Pure Water 2000 
program has provided more than $2.5 million to support more than 700 
environmental programs across the nation.
  One of its most noteworthy accomplishments has been in developing and 
promoting effective programs to discourage abuse of its products. Coors 
has a record of encouraging responsible consumption of its products by 
adults--and only adults. Over the years, millions of dollars have been 
devoted to community-based education and prevention programs. Coors' 
``21 means 21'' message has been one of the elements responsible for 
the steady decline in underage drinking and drunk driving that we in 
the United States have been fortunate to see in the recent years.
  Coors has set the standard for responsible advertising, and has led 
the industry with policies to ensure that its ads encourage moderation, 
and are directed only to those over the age of 21.
  We all know of the controversies that can befall consumer products of 
all kinds during the highly politicized times in which we live today. 
But the record amassed by Coors over the past 125 years is reassuring. 
It is good to know there are still people and companies dedicated to 
doing the right thing.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in a toast to the thousands of 
Coors employees in Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia, and at Coors 
distributorships in every state of the nation: Congratulations on a job 
well done!

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