|
Senate and House Panels Hold Second in a Series of Statewide
Hearings
on Underage Drinking
HARRISBURG -- Members
of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control Committee held
a joint meeting today at the state capital in Harrisburg to seek input on how to
address the growing problem of underage drinking.
Senator John Rafferty (R-44),
chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said the joint Senate/House
hearing is the second in a series of statewide meetings on how to prevent
underage drinking.
The senators heard testimony
from speakers on a number of issues, including making it harder for teenagers to
gain access to alcohol, binge drinking, new technology to ensure that young
people have proper identification, keg registration, and public education
efforts.
Among those who testified were
representatives from organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD),
the PA Taverns Association, the Independent State Store Union, Pennsylvanians
Against Underage Drinking, Diageo, the Distilled Spirits Council, The Century
Council, Intelli-Check, Inc., United Food and Commercial Workers, the Greater
Hazelton Area Drug Free Task Force and the Malt Beverage Distributors.
“Our goal is to seek input on
this growing problem, find 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 raised concerns that
binge drinking is on the rise among high school and college students. Dr.
George Dowdall, a MADD volunteer, agreed, warning that “binge drinking is
potentially the number one public health concern for college students.”
Rafferty is sponsoring two
pieces of legislation to combat underage drinking, including a measure to
suspend driver’s licenses of 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.
Many representatives of the
liquor industry pledged their support for efforts to stop underage drinking and
make it more difficult for minors to obtain alcohol. They are leading efforts
to promote education on the dangers of alcohol.
Others testifying said that
more efforts need to be made to stop this growing health threat.
“Believe me,” said MADD State
Chairman Joe Clifford, “when you know the victims and their families, your
motivation and passion to stop underage drinking is derived from the need to put
an end to the pain and suffering.”
Rafferty said the Senate Law
and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control Committee has already held one
hearing in Philadelphia and plans to hold more in the months ahead. He said the
panels are seeking public input on the problem and proposed solutions from
educators, representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD),
Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking, law enforcement officials and parents.
Multimedia files:
Sen. John Rafferty, chairman of the Senate Law and Justice
Committee, speaks at a joint hearing with the House Liquor Control
Committee to discuss how to prevent underage drinking in Pennsylvania.
Also featured are Jake June, a student at Camp Hill High School, and
Richard Lester, a representative of MADD. The hearing was the second in a series
being held around the state.
 
Rafferty
June
Lester
# # #
Camp Hill High School
student Jake June, right, testifies at a joint hearing of the Senate
Law and Justice and House Liquor Control committees on June 15. The
hearing was the second in a series on how to prevent underage drinking in
Pennsylvania.
Sen. Pat Vance, left,
questions June.
Sen. John Rafferty,
chairman of the Senate Law and Justice
Committee, asks a question during the June 15 hearing.
|
