Lindsay Lohan’s lawyers have blasted the USA Today newspaper over the use of the actress’ image in a drunk-driving 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 full-page black-and-white ad, which was paid for by the American Beverage Institute, featured in Friday’s USA Today. It 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.

The reason Lindsay’s face was used on the ad? “Because she’s had multiple DUIs that have been high profile,” American Beverage Institute managing director Sarah Longwell told The AP. “We needed to create the distinction for the public what someone with multiple DUIs looked like versus a low blood-alcohol-level first-time offender.”

And despite the outcry from the actress’ legal team, The American Beverage Institute are standing by its use of Lohan’s image.

“People magazine, Smoking Gun and a lot of people have republished this mug shot,” said Longwell. “It was publicly accessible. We’re not using it for any kind of commercial gain. So we’re well within our rights to use it.”

A spokesman for USA Today issued the following statement regarding Berk’s comments, “Advocacy advertising is a big part of what we do. Our pages function as forum for competing views.”

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