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Senate, House Liquor Committees Unveil Major
Legislative Package
to Curb Underage Drinking
HARRISBURG -- The
four chairmen of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control
Committee today unveiled a comprehensive package of bills aimed at curbing
underage drinking and high-risk drinking. Representative Ron Raymond, Senator
Sean Logan and Representative Robert Donatucci joined Senator John Rafferty at
the press conference held in Harrisburg to outline the measures.
Rafferty, who chairs the Senate Law and Justice
Committee, said the 14 bills contained in the package would make it harder for
minors to obtain alcohol, create education programs to prevent underage
drinking, and establish stiffer penalties for violations.
The committees held four joint hearings around the
state this year with over 40 testifiers and/or organizations participating.
Rafferty said the bills reflect the input and recommendations they received
during those hearings.
The package of bills includes the following:
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Driver's license revocation for adults who
furnish alcohol to minors
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Increased penalties for adults who furnish
alcohol to minors and an injury results
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Tax credits or license fee renewals credit for
ID swipe technology
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Age compliance checks by full-time police
departments in conjunction with Pennsylvania State Police
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Mandated keg identification tag
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Mandated alcohol policy for higher education
institutions, with alcohol education training
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Mandated Responsible Alcohol Management Program
(RAMP) training for bar/restaurant operators who incur underage drinking
liquor code violations
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Increased state funding for underage drinking by
100% to $1 million annually
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Mandated alcohol testing for any driver involved
in accident when death or life-threatening injury occurs
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Increased penalties for driving drunk with a
child
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Immunity for minors who act to save the life of
another
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Require the Liquor Control Board Bureau of
Alcohol Education to report every 2 years to General Assembly on underage
drinking prevention efforts
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Prohibit licensees from possessing AWOL (Alcohol
Without Liquid) machines
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Permit Victim Impact Panel (VIP) programs in the
DUI sentencing process
“Our goal during the hearings was to seek input on
the problem, potential solutions and discover ways the Legislature can help to
meet funding needs and develop legislation to combat this growing problem,”
Rafferty said. “I believe the aggressive package of bills we are introducing
today will help us meet that goal.”
Rafferty added, “Alcohol is the most frequently
abused drug by high school seniors, and its use is increasing. The American
Public Health Association estimates that two-thirds of high school seniors
consume alcohol, with one-third of those being binge drinkers.”
Representative Raymond said, “Underage drinking
remains a serious problem, with more than 17 percent of 12 to 18-year-olds
reporting drinking in the past month. Studies also indicate that minors remain
overrepresented in alcohol-related fatalities. As the chairman of the House
Liquor Control Committee, I am anxious to work with my colleagues on this
bipartisan effort to curb underage drinking.”
According to experts, adults are the biggest source
of alcohol for underage drinkers with 65% of underage drinkers getting their
alcohol from parents or adult friends. A recent report to Congress by the
National Academy of Sciences identified parties, friends and adult purchasers as
the most frequent sources of alcohol among college students and older
adolescents, and family members as the most frequent source for younger
adolescents.
 
Sen. John Rafferty, chair of the Senate
Law and Justice Committee, joined other legislators at a Capitol news
conference on Dec. 13 to unveil comprehensive package of bills aimed at
curbing underage drinking and high-risk drinking.
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