Tougher Peanlties For Selling Alcohol To Minors

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(STATEHOUSE) - Legislators believe they’ve struck a blow against underage drinking, with a bill now on its way to Governor Daniels.

Legislators have voted to toughen penalties for selling alcohol to minors, and have ordered excise police to conduct sting operations to catch violators. The bill also ends a years-long wrangle over the definition of a grocery store, to make sure the convenience store at the gas station down the street is covered.

House Public Policy Chairman Trent Van Haaften (D-Mount Vernon) says the real achievement of the bill may be to put alcohol sellers on notice the state intends to enforce the law.

"You want to make sure, since it's a regulated product, that it's handled properly," Van Haaften says. "You also want to take the steps to determine, if someone is not handling it properly, how we find out who they are, and what laws (are available) to enforce against them."

One provision in the mammoth bill targets not alcohol, but cigarettes. It requires cigarette vending machines to post a warning label aimed at pregnant women.

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