FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2005
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Senate and House Liquor Committees Make Underage Drinking a Top Priority 

(Harrisburg, PA)  In an effort to stem underage drinking, the four chairmen of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control Committee held a news conference today in the state capitol to kick off statewide hearings to address the growing problem of underage drinking.  Representative Ron Raymond, Senator Sean Logan and Representative Robert Donatucci joined Senator Rafferty at the press conference in Harrisburg.   

Senator John Rafferty (R-44), who chairs the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said the joint Senate/House hearings will focus on a number of issues, including making it harder for teenagers to gain access to alcohol, new technology to ensure that young people have proper identification, keg registration, public education efforts at the high school and college levels, and a number of legislative initiatives. 

"Our goal is 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.  "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." 

Rafferty is sponsoring two pieces of legislation to combat underage drinking, including a measure to suspend driver's licenses for adults who furnish alcohol to minors and a bill to require all colleges, universities and community colleges to have a written alcohol policy, including counseling and penalties for underage drinking. 

He said the Senate Law and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control Committee will travel around the state to seek public input on the problem and proposed solutions from educators, representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking,  law enforcement officials and parents. 

"We must all share in the responsibility to protect our children from the impact of underage use of alcohol.  We all want to keep our children safe, and today shows that we can count on the community to support our efforts," said Representative Ron Raymond. 

"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." Rafferty said.  "As the new chairman of the Senate Law and Justice 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. 

Rebecca Shaver, State Executive Director, MADD, who attended the press conference added, "Teenagers are not well informed about alcohol's effects, and unfortunately, parents need to change their attitude about childhood drinking.  It's not a "right of passage"!  It's illegal and it's extremely harmful to our children in so many ways!" 

"When you limit underage access to alcohol, you make underage drinking a lot harder to accomplish," said Guy Smith, Diageo North America's Executive Vice President, External Affairs.  "As the industry leader on social responsibility, it is imperative we take a stand for our kids.  We're parents and we know how important it is that we all step up to the plate."

- A video clip of Senator John Rafferty, Chair of The Senate Law and Justice Committee, was joined by other lawmakers, law enforcement officials and advocates against underage drinking. during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda on Underage Drinking on March 16, 2005.