The makers of Guinness® Irish Stout are asking President O’bama to amend the calender of official holidays in the United States to include St. Patrick’s Day. To do so, the iconic brand is re-introducing Proposition 3-17, a movement to make Saint Patrick’s Day a national holiday for Americans.

The makers of Guinness first proposed Proposition 3-17 in 2008 and collected more than 352,000 signatures in support of the official holiday status. This year, the brand aims to bolster the movement as Americans need, more so now than ever, to take a break and celebrate the holiday with friends and family.

The period from President’s Day to Memorial Day (98 days) marks the longest stretch in the working calendar without an official holiday break. By contrast there are five official holidays within the 81-day period from Thanksgiving to President’s Day.

Adults 21 and older can support Proposition 3-17 by signing the petition at bars and retail stores where Guinness is sold, by visiting Proposition317.com (www.Proposition317.com) or texting the word “SIGN” to 65579.

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just celebrated by those with Irish ancestry. According to a 2008 survey of men and women 21 years of age and older, more than half (57%) of those polled think everyone has “a little bit of Irish in them” on St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, while 54% of respondents surveyed with Irish ancestry planned to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, almost a third of U.S. residents who don’t claim Irish ancestry also planned to celebrate the holiday. This rich celebration has become a part of the American fabric

Source: PR Newswire