Bipartisan, Bicameral STOP Underage Drinking Act Passes U.S. House, DeLauro Announces
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today announced that "The STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing) Underage Drinking Act" (HR 864) passed the U.S. House. The bipartisan, bicameral bill is the first major national legislation to address the public health crisis of underage drinking in our country.
"For too long, we have looked the other way on when it comes to the increasing problem of underage drinking," said DeLauro. "That is why today is an important moment - one in which this Congress says, Enough is enough.' We need this comprehensive bill, which will increase resources for drinking prevention coalitions like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, fund more research to identify alcohol consumption patterns in youth and the role alcohol advertising plays in underage drinking, and provide a national media campaign directed at adults, to make them as aware of the dangers associated with underage drinking. I am delighted that this legislation has passed the U.S. House."
The legislation is based on a 2003 study by the National Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science. The study found that, during any given month, nearly 11 million of our youth between the ages of 12 and 20 drink alcohol. That means that by the end of today, more than five thousand of our nation's youth under the age of 16, will have taken their first drink. Furthermore, a recent study found that youth who drink alcohol could forget as much as 10 percent of what they learn as compared to those who do not drink.
Once signed into law, the STOP Act will coordinate all federal programs and research initiatives on underage drinking, make permanent an Ad Council national media campaign directed at parents, and provide grants to institutions of higher education, states and non-profit organizations to combat underage drinking in communities. The STOP Act will also support crucial research on the health effects of underage drinking and require the federal government to produce an annual status report on underage drinking in our country.
The bipartisan STOP Act is also sponsored by Representatives Tom Osborne (R-NE), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Congresswoman Roybal-Allard (D-CA). U.S. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) introduced an identical Senate companion bill.
The measure has been endorsed by many public health and alcohol beverage industry groups, including: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA); the American Medical Association; the Center for Science in the Public Interest; the American Public Health Association; the National Beer Wholesalers Association; the Beer Institute; the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America; the Wine Institute; the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States; the Century Council; and the Brewers Association.
Following passage by the U.S. Senate, the bill will be forwarded to the President for his signature.
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/November/STOP_Underage_Drinking_11_14_06.html