2008 Woodie Awards
Bill targets serving underage people
Brittney Berget - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
House parties have long been known as the place to be on a Friday night for students who are underage and looking to drink.
But following the 88-10 passage of a keg registration measure in the Iowa House on Wednesday, another piece of legislation proposed by the Public Safety Committee on March 14 could add to the arsenal of regulations aimed at keeping alcohol out the hands of those under age.
The new bill would make it a simple misdemeanor for underage people to serve alcohol to others who are underage on first offense, and it would make the second offense punishable with a $500 fine.
"The new legislation will make it much easier for law officials to quickly and efficiently deal with underage drinkers," said Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay.
Because of the set monetary fine, he said, the bill has the potential to deter the number of house parties that occur.
Which could prove beneficial - a study released by the Underage Drinking Enforcement Center found that teenagers who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said the legislation could help crack down on underage drinking and help target house parties, specifically.
"With so many house parties, it's underage people who are throwing the parties and providing the alcohol," Mascher said. "The intent is to let students know they are liable."
Some students haven't thought twice about providing alcohol to those underage and aren't worried about the proposed legislation.
"I've always been more worried about getting a ticket for having a disorderly house," said Claire Rhoten, a 20-year-old UI junior who has thrown and attended house parties. The proposed legislation is something to keep in mind, she said.
And of course, as 21-year-old Marc Hines pointed out, there are always the bars.
"I think this could reduce the size of house parties," the UI junior said. "But it's not like it's hard to get alcohol at the bars, either."
E-mail DI reporter Brittney Berget at:
brittney-berget@uiowa.edu
But following the 88-10 passage of a keg registration measure in the Iowa House on Wednesday, another piece of legislation proposed by the Public Safety Committee on March 14 could add to the arsenal of regulations aimed at keeping alcohol out the hands of those under age.
The new bill would make it a simple misdemeanor for underage people to serve alcohol to others who are underage on first offense, and it would make the second offense punishable with a $500 fine.
"The new legislation will make it much easier for law officials to quickly and efficiently deal with underage drinkers," said Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay.
Because of the set monetary fine, he said, the bill has the potential to deter the number of house parties that occur.
Which could prove beneficial - a study released by the Underage Drinking Enforcement Center found that teenagers who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said the legislation could help crack down on underage drinking and help target house parties, specifically.
"With so many house parties, it's underage people who are throwing the parties and providing the alcohol," Mascher said. "The intent is to let students know they are liable."
Some students haven't thought twice about providing alcohol to those underage and aren't worried about the proposed legislation.
"I've always been more worried about getting a ticket for having a disorderly house," said Claire Rhoten, a 20-year-old UI junior who has thrown and attended house parties. The proposed legislation is something to keep in mind, she said.
And of course, as 21-year-old Marc Hines pointed out, there are always the bars.
"I think this could reduce the size of house parties," the UI junior said. "But it's not like it's hard to get alcohol at the bars, either."
E-mail DI reporter Brittney Berget at:
brittney-berget@uiowa.edu
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