News Release
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2009
Contact:
Aaron Zappia
(215) 657-7700

Senate Committee Approves Greenleaf’s Beer Keg Registration Legislation

Today, the Senate Law and Justice Committee approved State Senator Stewart Greenleaf’s (R, Montgomery, Bucks) legislation providing for a tracking system for beer kegs.

In an effort to curtail underage drinking, Senate Bill 44 requires each purchaser of a beer keg to complete a numbered form listing his or her name and address.  The beer distributor will then place an identification tag on the keg that corresponds to the number on the form completed by the purchaser.

Beer kegs are commonly the main source of alcohol for underage drinkers, purchased by those over the drinking age.  In many cases, those at or just over 21 years old will buy kegs for their younger friends or family members.  Kegs are a cheap source of large quantities of alcohol favored by price sensitive minors.  Kegs are known to encourage binge drinking, dramatically increasing the risk of alcohol-related problems such as driving under the influence.  Keg tagging encourages adults to think twice before allowing minors to drink from the kegs they purchase.     

The Liquor Control Board will implement the legislation through regulations.  The unlawful removal of a tag is a summary offense. 

The legislation has widespread support including the Pennsylvania DUI Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  A 2001 statewide poll indicated that 67 percent of Pennsylvanians favor a keg-tagging law and 69 percent of parents with teenagers favor such a law.           

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction, 31 states have adopted keg registration laws.  The Maine Bureau of Liquor Enforcement reported "an 80% reduction in keg parties in the State of Maine since the passing of the law in regards to registration of kegs.  The registration of kegs has also led to several convictions for procuring liquor to minors that would have otherwise been impossible." 

According to the Pennsylvania DUI Association, alcohol is the drug of choice for Pennsylvania youth.  In a 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, 55.4% of Pennsylvania students reported having used alcohol at least once in their lifetimes, 23.2% in the last 30 days. Nearly 13 percent reported binge drinking in the past two weeks. 

More teens die from alcohol poisoning or drunk driving crashes than from all other causes combined.  Half of teen suicides, homicides, assaults, drowning and recreational deaths and injuries involve alcohol. 

Younger drinkers are more likely to develop addiction or drinking problems later. People who began drinking before age 15 were four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who began drinking at 21.

Greenleaf said, "With such a law in place, who would be foolish enough to risk being caught buying kegs of beer for underage drinkers?  From college campuses to neighborhood parties, beer kegs are a cheap and easy way for kids to drink and become dangerously intoxicated.  This legislation is a very simple, yet effective way to stop this kind of abuse by irresponsible adults."