"An Act relating to civil liability for acts related to obtaining alcohol for persons under 21 years of age or for persons under 21 years of age being on licensed premises."

Under CS HB 428 (JUD)am Civil Penalty: Underage Alcohol Purchases, an adult who orders or receives an alcoholic beverage, for the purpose of selling, giving, or serving it to a person under the age of 21 years, can be civilly liable to the licensee for a penalty of a $1,000. Likewise, the parent or legal guardian of a minor that solicits an adult to violate AS 04.16.060, can be civilly liable for a penalty of $1,000 to the licensee from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased, ordered, or received.

There is nothing new about misguided adults buying alcohol for minors. Often, minors ask a stranger outside of a liquor store to buy alcohol.

Alcohol remains a leading drug problem among our nation's young people, with earlier and earlier initiation of consumption. Underage drinking is associated with the leading causes of death among young people, including car crashes, murder, and suicide. CS HB 428 (JUD)am will provide an economic deterrent for adults and for minors to abstain from purchasing or soliciting the purchase of alcohol.

Currently, the Municipality of Anchorage has a similar ordinance to CS HB 428 (JUD)am in place. The money that is collected by the licensees goes toward alcohol education and intervention programs, as well as to the employees of the licensee as incentives for paying close attention to all customers.

The method of deterrent that CS HB 428 (JUD)am will provide increases the awareness of the overall cost that alcohol and underage drinking has on our communities. CS HB 428 (JUD)am provides an economic incentive for employees of liquor stores and bars to pay close attention to customers, for minors to refrain from soliciting alcohol from adults, and for irresponsible adults to think twice before providing alcohol to a minor upon request.

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