7-Eleven Brews Free 12-oz Cups of Coffee New Year’s Eve/Day
For 21 years, Retailer Has Rung in New Year with Free Coffee

DALLAS (Dec. 29, 2008) – Revelers who may be celebrating the New Year with their first glass of real “bubbly” could have been drinking something quite different when 7-Eleven stores first introduced their free New Year’s coffee tradition in 1987-88 … perhaps a baby bottle. The convenience retailer’s annual coffee give-away for late-night/early-morning customers comes of age this year and has become a holiday tradition at many 7-Eleven stores around the country.

The overnight offer includes all 7-Eleven stores’ fresh-brewed coffees, as well as gourmet specialties like cappuccino and hot chocolate. Participating stores* will display a poster in the front window announcing information about the free-coffee program. The free 12-ounce hot beverages will be available between 12 midnight, Dec. 31, and 6 a.m., Jan. 1, 2009.

“A lot of people stay up later than they are used to on New Year’s Eve, and a stop at a 7-Eleven store to get out of their car and grab a free hot cup of coffee may make their drive home safer,” said Rick Wilshe, 7-Eleven brand manager for hot beverages. “This small gesture of a free cup of coffee also allows us to thank our customers for their patronage and to wish them a safe and happy New Year.”

Driving while drowsy can be as hazardous as driving while intoxicated. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that, conservatively, 100,000 crashes, 40,000 injuries and 1,500 fatalities yearly are caused by drivers who are asleep. Because no tests exist to determine a driver’s alertness, those numbers are probably much higher. According to the NHTSA, some common factors behind crashes involving a drowsy driver include:

• The crash occurs late at night or early in the morning.
• It is likely to be serious.
• A single vehicle leaves the roadway.
• The crash occurs on a high-speed road.
• The driver does not attempt to avoid a crash.
• The driver is alone in the vehicle.

The NHTSA reports that, young people ages 16 to 29, especially males, are most at risk. Shift workers whose sleep is disrupted by working at night or working long or irregular hours also face increased risks. Drowsy-driving accidents also may be exacerbated by the use of sedating medications, untreated or unrecognized sleep disorders, or consumption of alcohol. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s “Sleep in America” poll, 60 percent of Americans report having driven while feeling sleepy and more than one-third admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.

Since ringing in the 1988 New Year 21 years ago, 7-Eleven stores across the United States have given away more than 1.3 million cups of coffee in this free-coffee program, but that’s a mere drop in the mug compared to 365 million cups of coffee the retailer sells a year. 7-Eleven brews almost 10,000 pots every hour of every day of the year.

* Participating 7-Eleven stores are in the following areas: Maryland, Central and southeast Virginia, Washington, D.C., Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, greater Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Texas (greater DFW and Austin areas), Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and northern California.

About 7 Eleven, Inc.
7 Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses approximately 7,600 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 35,200 stores in 17 countries. During 2007, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $46.6 billion. Named the #1 Franchise Opportunity for 2008 by Entrepreneur magazine, 7-Eleven is franchising virtually all of its stores in the U.S., and is expanding through its Business Conversion Program, acquisitions, building new and leasing existing properties. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.