Survey Shows Low Carb Enthusiasts Missing Out On The Party

New York, NY - Most of the 35 million plus low carb converts in the U.S. are missing out on the party, according to a new study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. The survey, which measured the public's knowledge about the carb count of popular beverage alcohol options, found that 63% of people incorrectly believe that wine and beer are lower in carbs than spirits like vodka, tequila, gin and scotch whisky. Spirits such as SMIRNOFF174, JOSE CUERVO174, CROWN ROYAL174, JOHNNIE WALKER174, and TANQUERAY174 have zero carbs per serving, a fact of which low carb watchers are clearly unaware.

• Within the spirits category, 55% of people believe that tequila is high/medium in carbs, despite the fact that it has zero carbs per ounce.
• 52% of people believe that vodka is high/medium in carbs, despite the fact that it has zero carbs per ounce.
• When asked to rank which beverage options were lowest in carbs - given the choice between a regular soda, fruit juice or spirits - 67% of people incorrectly chose fruit juice and soda.
• With the low carb lifestyle growing in popularity, 58% of would-be hosts and hostesses would consider providing low carb food and beverages at their low carb party.

When it's time to celebrate or socialize, these zero carb spirits - vodka, gin, tequila, and whisky - are the beverage of choice for those dieters following the low carb lifestyle. The following are carb counts for popular beverage options:

• Vodka, gin, tequila and whiskey - zero carbs per 1.5-ounce serving.
• *Wine - One gram of carbs per 3.5-ounce serving.
• *Beer - 13 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving of regular beer and 2.6 grams per 12-ounce serving of low carb beer.
• *Soda - 38.5 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving.
• *Fruit Juice - average of 25 grams of carbs per 8-ounce serving.

The survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Diageo, the world's leading beer, wine and spirits company. Nationwide over 950 consumers of legal drinking age were polled via telephone omnibus survey. * These figures represent average carb counts as provided by the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. For more information, please contact: Melissa Kruse Alan Taylor Communications 212-714-1280 ext. 241 Alison Reemer Alan Taylor Communications 212-714-1280 ext. 296 About Ipsos Public Affairs Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective public affairs research organization made up of Democratic and Republican campaign and political polling veterans. It was established in August 2001 in Washington, D.C., and is headed by veteran pollster Thomas Riehle, who has more than 15 years of experience as a political pollster in Washington. The division conducts strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of U.S. and international organizations. Typically, the division's studies are based on opinion research, not only public opinion, but often elite stakeholder, corporate and media opinion. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based market research group. About Ipsos Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research group, with revenues of 538.5 million euros in 2002. It offers a full suite of research services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies in advertising, marketing, public opinion and customer loyalty research, as well as forecasting and modeling. Member companies also offer a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos.com Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris Premier Marchй, and is part of the SBF 120 and Next Prime Indices as well as eligible to the Deferred Settlement System (SRD). Euroclear code 7329, Reuters ISOS.LN, Bloomberg IPS FP