Captain Morgan and BOATsmart! Canada Cruise Cottage Country This Summer to
Highlight the Importance of Boating Safety

The Captain's Landing Program Showcases Captain Morgan's Commitment to Boating Safety

TORONTO, June 30 /CNW/ - Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, announced today the launch of The Captain's Landing summer program this Canada Day weekend, in partnership with BOATsmart! Canada. The Captain's Landing promotes education and awareness to legal drinking age consumers around summer boating safety.

All season long, Captain Morgan will be taking over the lakes throughout Ontario's Cottage Country reminding Canadians to have fun, be responsible and make safety a number one priority. Traveling from dock to dock through Simcoe, Muskoka, Huntsville and Kawartha region, Captain Morgan will be surprising consumers by providing them with an experience that makes their cottage weekend more exciting and memorable.

"Drinking responsibly is always part of the Captain's orders, and we want all consumers to be safe this Canada Day weekend and all summer long", said Andrew Murison, Director, Captain Morgan. "We would like all adult consumers of legal drinking age to have a good time and enjoy our products responsibly on land, after boating".

Before Ontarians hit the waters this summer on their boats, jet skis and canoes, Captain Morgan and BOATsmart! Canada want to remind everyone of the many safety issues and precautions they should be aware of. Boating, just like driving, needs to be taken seriously when it comes to safety measures, and all too often the rules of the water are ignored. It is unacceptable to drink and drive a motor vehicle and the same holds true for drinking and boating.

"Boating is a fun and safe activity", said Cameron Taylor, President of BOATsmart! Canada. "The majority of boating accidents are preventable it just comes down to common sense. It's critical to remember the five key steps to safe boating: get trained, be prepared, wear the gear, be responsible and know how to respond in an emergency".

Approximately 1.7 million Ontario cottagers do not currently have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, commonly known as a boating license, and as of this summer it is mandatory.

Along with on-land samplings of the new Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea for cottagers who have finished boating and other water activities for the day, the Captain and his Morganettes will be handing out boating safety tips, as well as a $10 incentive to take the BOATsmart! exam online at www.BoatSmartExam.com.

Be sure to look out for Captain Morgan the following weekends:

July 1 - July 4: Lake Muskoka (Muskoka)

July 16 - July 18: Fairy Lake, Lake Vernon, Mary Lake (Huntsville)

July 30 - August 1: Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph (Port Carling)

August 6 - August 8: Lake of Bays (Bracebridge)

August 20 - August 22: Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching (Orillia)

September 3 - September 6: Balsam Lake, Stoney Lake, Sturgeon Lake

(Lindsay/Bobcaygeon)

When enjoying all its products, Diageo reminds its adult consumers to drink responsibly. As the world's largest spirits, wine and beer company, Diageo is committed to social responsibility and the responsible marketing of its brands. For more information, please go to www.drinkIQ.com

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

About BOATsmart! Canada

BOATsmart! Canada is Canada's largest and most recognized Course Provider. The organization's mission is to educate recreational boaters and promote the safe, enjoyable and environmentally friendly use of Canada's waterways.

For further information: Erika Molnar-Rioux, High Road Communications, 416-644-2234, [email protected]; Alanna Stone, Diageo Canada, 416-641-1712, [email protected]