State House approves underage drinking bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House unanimously approves legislation to increase fines on underage drinkers and the people who serve them alcohol.<br/><br/>Norman state Representative Thad Balkman&#39;s

Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 6:11 am

By: News On 6


OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House unanimously approves legislation to increase fines on underage drinkers and the people who serve them alcohol.

Norman state Representative Thad Balkman's bill would require servers to face fines of up to $5,000 and the loss of a beer permit. Servers caught repeatedly selling beer to minors could also face five years in prison.

Underage drinkers caught illegally purchasing beer could face a fine of up to $900 and the loss of their driver's license for up to two years under the bill, which now goes to the state Senate for consideration.

A person must be at least 21 to buy alcohol in Oklahoma.

In 2004, 14.8 percent of Oklahoma drivers causing alcohol-related crashes were under 21. In 2003, there were 2,281 Oklahomans under 21 arrested for DUI, with people 18 and under accounting for almost 1,100 of those arrests.

The measure passed 98-to-0 Monday.
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