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House committee defers action on drinking ban bill
House Bill 872 was pressed by an unusual coalition of liquor retailers, Louisiana sheriffs and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The bill was aimed at college students under the legal drinking age of 21 who get drunk at a friend's house, said Cathy Childers of MADD. She said underage drinking in that manner is a significant problem in Baton Rouge. Lobbyist Chris Young, whose group represents bars and convenience stores that sell alcohol, joined supporters at the hearing table before the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. But Young abruptly withdrew his support during testimony after Rep. Arthur Morrell, D-New Orleans, pointed out that HB872 would alter the language in the existing law that allows parents, in their own homes, to give their children sips of their drinks. "We wanted to stop 18- to 21-year-olds from cracking a keg and invoking the private-residence exception," said Young, who represents the Louisiana Alcohol Beverage License Association. "But when you have a 14-year-old and give them a half-glass of wine at Thanksgiving dinner, well, you're making criminals out of a lot people in Louisiana. We can't support that," Young said. MADD's Childers, testifying next to Young, opposed amending the measure to allow for children taking drinks at family occasions. "We are very comfortable" with the bill as written, she said. Morrell asked, "Why do you want to expand this to allow police to come into private homes and arrest you for having a drink, not for being drunk, but for having a drink?" Murphy Painter of the Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control, a third supporter sitting at the proponent's table, said, "I thought this was going to be technical and non controversial." Committee Chairman Daniel Martiny, R-Metairie, quickly jumped on Painter's comment and moved that HB872 be deferred until the proponents could agree on the language.
Painter said acceptable amendments would be
drafted and the legislation would be considered again next week.
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