STOP Underage Drinking Act Reintroduced
Legislation to create a federal media campaign and research initiative focused on underage drinking was reintroduced in the House and Senate, the Chattanoogan reported Feb. 16.

The STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing) Underage Drinking Act is primarily sponsored by Representatives Tom Osborne (R-NE), Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). A Senate companion bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

"Unfortunately, illegal drinking is rampant today, and if you happen to travel to most beaches at spring break this year, you will see 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds intoxicated, endangering themselves and everyone around them," said Wamp. "This problem has been ignored too long, and parents need to demand accountability from the alcohol industry and the advertising industry. Alcohol is a drug, and for many teenagers, it is the first one they try."

Congress has already allocated $1 million to an Ad Council underage-drinking ad campaign expected to begin this year; the STOP Act would authorize another $1 million. The bill also calls for spending $2 million on an interagency committee to coordinate federal underage-drinking prevention efforts and requires an annual report on these activities be delivered to Congress. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be tasked with creating a report card on state efforts to fight the problem.

Also, the Drug-Free Communities program would get $5 million for addressing underage drinking, and a new $5 million program would provide competitive grants to create coalitions to combat underage drinking and alcohol abuse among college students. HHS would also get $6 million for research and data collection.

The bill has been endorsed by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.