Lindsay Lohan's Mugshot Used As The Face of Anti-Breathalizer Campaign

A full-page ad appeared in USA Today on Friday and was paid for by a trade group that supports the interests of the alcohol industry.

So where's the story here? Well, the trade group, the American Beverage Institute, is using actor/celebrity bad girl Lindsay Lohan's mug shot as the primary visual in an ad that promotes the use of in-car breathalyzers for repeat DUI offenders only.

It is an attack on devices that measure drivers' blood-alcohol level before their vehicle can start, for people who "casually" drink and drive.

Huh?

It is a bizarre claim, seemingly not worthy of a full page ad. Should the industry be anti-breathalyzers?

The ad suggests that ignition interlocks were fine for "hard-core" drunk drivers, and suggests that the wide use of such devices would bring an end to champagne toasts at weddings, wine at dinner and ballgame beers. They say the devices should only be reserved for repeat DUI offenders like the twice convicted actress. Lohan's lawyer angrily responded that "Lindsay Lohan fully endorses ignition interlock devices."

The ad reads "Ignition interlocks are a good idea for" above Lohan's mug shot from her July 24, 2007 arrest and "But a bad idea for us" above smaller photos of people drinking.

Interestingly, Lohan's camp decided to attack USA Today, not the American Beverage Institute for running the ad:

"USA Today is idiotic to run such an irresponsible advertisement suggesting that drinking and driving is some kind of American 'tradition' we should protect," Lohan's lawyer Blair Berk said in a statement. "Not identifying that this ad was paid for by the liquor and restaurant industries is profoundly reckless.

"Drunk white businessmen, drunk housewives out for girls night out and drunk wedding parties should be kept off the roads of America," Berk continued. "Lindsay Lohan fully endorses ignition interlock devices, which have been well-proven to save lives."

The American Beverage Institute stood by its use of Lohan's image.

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