Lindsay Lohan's mug shot used in newspaper ad

Lindsay Lohan has been in numerous advertisements - but none like the one that appeared in Friday's issue of USA Today.

The actress's mug shot appeared in a full-page black and white ad paid for by the American Beverage Institute, a trade group that supports the interests of the alcohol industry. The ad attacked legislation for devices that read a driver's blood alcohol level before their vehicle starts.

Several states have passed bills that require DUI offenders to pay for and install an ignition interlock system in their vehicle to monitor their BAC. Some of these laws extend to first-time offenders while "highly intoxicated" - those with a BAC of 0.15 or higher.

The ad opposing the laws read: "Ignition interlocks are a good idea for" above Lohan's July 24, 2007 mug shot, and "But a bad idea for us," above small photos of people drinking.

"The reason that we used Lindsay Lohan is because she's had multiple DUIs that have been high profile," American Beverage Institute managing director Sarah Longwell told The Associated Press. "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."

The ad suggests that the ignition interlock devices would inhibit casual drinking, such as beer at sporting events and wine with dinner.

"USA Today is idiotic to run such an irresponsible advertisement suggesting that drinking and driving is some kind of American 'tradition' we should protect," Blair Berk, Lohan's lawyer, 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 added. "Lindsay Lohan fully endorses ignition interlock devices, which have been well-proven to save lives."

"People magazine, Smoking Gun and a lot of people have republished this mug shot," said Longwell of the American Beverage Institute, supporting the decision to use Lohan's mugshot. "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."