Virginia is for lovers...and underage drinking
Loophole In Virginia Bill Would Allow For Teen Drinking At Homes By BOB LEWIS Associated Press Writer (AP) - A bill written to put liquor off-limits to youthful drinkers at private parties in Virginia could permit boozy prom parties or frat bashes right out of "Animal House," groups opposed to teen drinking contend. Even the bill's sponsor, Del. Rob Bell, wants Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner to amend a sentence in his legislation to fix the problem, and the Washington-based Beer Institute supports the request. "The amendment by the governor would be a good idea because it would make sure the courts know you can't serve liquor to kids unless their parents are there," said Bell, R-Albemarle. "But if you put a keg in your back yard and everyone comes over for it, that's the sort of thing we're trying to stop," he said. The law now allows people who hold parties in their own homes to serve alcohol to anyone regardless of age. Bell's bill, as it passed the House, would have outlawed allowing guests under 21 to consume alcohol at a party. A Senate amendment removed that restriction, effectively keeping existing law in force. "It would mean someone would be allowed to serve alcohol to guests no matter their ages in a private residence," said Kurt Erickson of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, one of several organizations appealing to the governor for the amendment. Erickson said the bill would make it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol, but "all you'd have to do to circumvent that would be to say these 17-year-olds in my house are my guests or these 18-year-olds are guests in my fraternity house." In a floor debate, Sen. Nick Rerras, R-Norfolk, opposed the bill on grounds it would subject people at religious or cultural festivals to prosecution for engaging in long-accepted rituals and observances. He also said it was unfair to young military "freedom fighters" 19 or 20 years old who come back home from combat and could be arrested for having a beer with a buddy a year or two older. In a letter to Warner, Beer Institute President Jeff Becker urged the governor to close the loophole. He wrote that the bill "does not accomplish one of the primary goals sought in the two-year effort to significantly reduce underage drinking in Virginia." Warner's office had not taken a position on Bell's bill or the proposed amendment on Friday. The governor has through March 27 to veto, amend or sign legislation. (Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)