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House OKs Underage Drinking Liability Bill
HB 281 Holds Adults Responsible for Giving Children Alcohol

(JUNEAU) - Adults who knowingly give alcohol to minors would be legally responsible for any injury or damage those children might then cause, under a bill that passed the House unanimously today.

Rep. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage) introduced House Bill 281 in an effort to discourage underage drinking and the tragedies that all too often result. The bill would give adults significant reason to pause before making alcohol available to children.

"The tragedy of last July that took the life of three teenagers and Anchorage Police Officer Justin Wollam once again highlighted the problem of under-aged drinking and driving, and the consequences of adults knowingly providing alcohol to minors," Meyer said. In that incident, adults provided alcohol to several minors who later fled from police in a high-speed chase that ended with a fatal head-on collision on an Anchorage highway.

Under current state law, bars and liquors stores that furnish alcohol to minors can be held civilly liable, as well as criminally responsible, for damages or injuries if it is determined that alcohol is a factor in causing the damage or injury.

HB 281 would hold the general public to similar standards, Meyer said. Any adult who knowingly furnished alcohol to a person under the age of 21 could be held civilly liable for the resulting damages or injuries. The damages could be won by the victim of such injuries or damages, or by the victim's family.

"The intent of this bill is to catch those adults who are knowingly buying and supplying alcohol to minors, whether in convenience store parking lots or private homes," Meyer said. "HB 281 will hopefully deter adults from furnishing alcohol to minors; it will help reduce underage access to alcohol; and it will provide a source of recourse for the victims' families."

HB 281 moves next to Senate for consideration.

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