ERLC supports bill to combat underage drinking

By Tom Strode - Feb 28, 2005

Legislation designed to prevent underage drinking was reintroduced Feb. 16 in Congress.

The Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act, S. 408 in the Senate and H.R. 864 in the House, would authorize a coordinated attempt to reduce alcohol consumption by minors. The STOP legislation would: (1) Appropriate $2 million yearly for a committee to coordinate efforts among federal agencies to prevent underage drinking and to report to Congress; (2) provide $1 million a year for a media campaign targeting adults; (3) fund at $10 million new programs in states and communities, as well as at colleges, and (4) grant $6 million for increased research.

The ERLC has endorsed the legislation.

The problem with underage drinking is illustrated in statistics provided by the Center for Science in the Public Interest:

  • Underage people drink 19.7 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
  • The binge drinking rate for underage people grew by 56 percent from 1993 to 2001. Binge drinking is defined as consuming at least five drinks in a sitting during the previous month.
  • Between 2002 and 2003, 56.7 percent of high school seniors said they drank beer and 58.6 percent of 12^th^ graders reported drinking liquor.
  • Alcohol is an important factor in the top four causes of death among 10 to 24 year olds: Automobile crashes; accidental injuries; murder, and suicide.

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