Responsible Hosts "Deflate the Elephant in the Room" with Tips From LCBO Web Site

TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - LCBO's Deflate the Elephant information campaign encourages safe, enjoyable celebrations this holiday season by offering a variety of new tools for anyone who is hosting a get-together. Deflatetheelephant.com is a one-stop source for responsible hosting tips, entertaining advice and practical tools to help prevent friends, colleagues and loved ones from drinking and driving.

"The popular Deflate the Elephant campaign continues to evolve through the use of new, interactive responsible hosting tools such as the Home Bartending Challenge," explains LCBO President & CEO Bob Peter. "We are also creating an online community where people can take the pledge to help prevent friends and family from impaired driving this holiday season and year-round."

LCBO invites visitors to hone their bartending skills and master the perfect pour by taking the "Home Bartending Challenge" on the campaign's website. Part of being a responsible host is to measure drinks for guests instead of running the risk of an open bar. This interactive tool teaches the perfect pour for wine, beer, spirits and coolers. Users can earn "Pour Master" badges and share results with friends on Facebook or Twitter.

Visit the Deflate the Elephant Facebook page (www.facebook.com/deflatetheelephant) to take the pledge against drinking and driving through personal photos and stories. Submitted photos will form a large image mosaic. Pledges with the most "Likes" will be featured on Facebook and the most "Liked" photos and stories will be showcased in the final mosaic to be unveiled for New Year's Eve.

Alcohol-free Mocktails are a great option to offer to all guests at holiday parties. The campaign website features more than 50 Mocktail recipes, as well as easy-to-prepare Mocktail demonstration videos with TV's The Cocktail Deeva Dee Brun. It also offers interactive hosting simulations, entertaining checklists, seasonal safety tips, plus a link to the free iPhone Speak Up! app. Find the top 10 tips for being a great host at www.deflatetheelephant.com/host_with_the_most.html.

A new, holiday-themed 15-second TV commercial airing on major Ontario networks and an online campaign start on December 5 and continue throughout the month to encourage responsible hosting.

For more information on this campaign, visit www.deflatetheelephant.com and for other LCBO social responsibility programs, visit www.lcbo.com/sr.

SOURCE LCBO

Video with caption: "Video: LCBO's Deflate the Elephant Holiday 2011 Social Responsibility Campaign". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20111202_C3311_VIDEO_EN_7774.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20111202_C3311_PHOTO_EN_7774.jpg&clientName=LCBO&caption=Video%3A%20LCBO%27s%20Deflate%20the%20Elephant%20Holiday%202011%20Social%20Responsibility%20Campaign&title=LCBO%27s%20Deflate%20the%20Elephant%20Holiday%202011%20Campaign

Image with caption: "LCBO's Deflate the Elephant social responsibility campaign launches the "Home Bartending Challenge" where you can hone your bartending skills and learn how to pour the perfect beer, wine, spirit or cooler. (CNW Group/LCBO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111202_C3311_PHOTO_EN_7773.jpg

Image with caption: "LCBO's Deflate the Elephant social responsibility campaign is asking everyone to post their photo and story and take the Pledge on Facebook against drinking and driving this holiday season (www.facebook.com/deflatetheelephant) (CNW Group/LCBO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111202_C3311_PHOTO_EN_7776.jpg