Sen. Rabon Disappointed House Won’t Hear Bill on Underage Drinking

State Sen. Jeff Rabon said he was disappointed that the House won’t hear his legislation to reduce underage drinking. Senate Bill 666 had been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee but Sen. Rabon received word on Monday that the committee would not give the bill a hearing. Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, is Rabon’s co-author for SB 666. Balkman was principal author of a similar House bill that was killed earlier this session.

“I think this was a very reasonable attempt to deal with a serious problem in our state. In 2002 there were more than 3,300 Oklahomans under 21 arrested for DUI and half of those were kids under the age of 18—and when it comes to underage drinking, 3.2 beer is the drink of choice. Our existing laws are not adequate,” said Rabon, D-Hugo.

According to the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, in 2002, 15.8 percent of Oklahoma drivers causing alcohol-related crashes were under the age of 21. The institute also reports that in 2003, 255 Oklahomans were killed in alcohol-related crashes.

“This bill simply would have increased the penalties for minors in possession of 3.2 beer as well as increasing penalties for those who provide it to them. It also would have ended “drown nights” that let people drink as much beer as they want for one price—a recipe for a deadly disaster,” Rabon said.

The bill also would have protected businesses tricked by minors using fake I.D.’s to purchase 3.2 beer.

“I really don’t know why the leadership of the House doesn’t want this bill heard. It literally could have saved countless lives in Oklahoma. I can only hope they reconsider this decision before another tragedy occurs because of underage drinking problems in our state,” Rabon said.