Illinois Coalition to

Stop Underage Drinking

HB 844 – NEEDS SPONSORS

Representative Froehlich, the chief sponsor needs to see we care about this issue.  At a minimum, everyone can call their own state representative (after hours if you are restricted during work) and ask them to be a co-sponsor.  Refer to Support Fact sheet for talking points.  I secured Harry Osterman and he is not my state representative!  This bill is in Executive Committee, a known bill graveyard, but I may have convinced Representative Froehlich to hold a subject matter only hearing in the committee.  This way there is no vote, but we get to hear what the arguments might be against the bill and it also elevates this issue.  Gets people talking and learning that Big Alcohol is indeed just like Big Tobacco when it comes to their target market – underage kids.  He may also do a press conference.  This could move quickly so be prepared and begin having conversations with anyone who might testify in committee and be available for the news conference.  (We are limited, but at least we will have developed a list of potential people to choose from).

HB 1295 – FAKE IDS

Sponsored by Representative Froehlich so we need to not go against it.  Certainly not my favorite bill, but the industry loves it.  Basically it gives immunity to anyone in a retail/commercial establishment who confiscates what they believe is a fake ID and it turns out not to be. 

AWOL – WE HAVE A GOOD BILL AND A BAD BILL

Representative Fritchey, my rep, is very excited about this bill.  Will do media around it.  HB 3600 needs co-sponsors quickly.   This bill prohibits the sale and use of Alcohol Without Liquid devices.  Prior to filing his bill, Representative Bellock filed HB 686 which bans them unless someone gets a permit from liquor control.  I use the word “someone” because this bill allows anyone running a special event, foreign company, retailer…anyone to get license.  This bill must go away and the only way it does is to pump up HB 3600.

WARNING THE WOLF IS IN THE HENHOUSE - AND HE IS WEARING SHEEPS CLOTHING

I thought Illinois was safe from the alcohol industry's latest attempt to co-opt concern about underage drinking.  There has been a rash of legislation being introduced calling for more penalties on youth victims and on adults who provide.  The problem is the penalty on adults is removal of their driver's license which is not backed by any scientific study or research and according to MADD, potentially muddies its connection with DUI penalties - losing drivers license is an appropriate and useful tool in punishing adult DUI offenders. 

Also just because we may support legislation that pulls drivers license on kids, we need to remind anyone listening that we need stronger penalties on business-licensed adults and companies, and more accountability of the alcohol industry.  They want everyone to change their behavior - parents, kids, college students, other adults...but they don’t see why they should change their behavior or why their drug pushers need to change theirs. 

Some ideas to get out in front of this is for your organizations or volunteers to issue a statement or write an op-ed.  Title it Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.  While pretending they want to eliminate underage drinking, nothing in the legislation changes how they do business. Yes the wolf is the best one to tell you how to protect the flock, the wolf doesn’t mean to eat the sheep.  Contact editorial cartoonist to see if they are going to do anything.  Get your youth to call legislators and denounce the industry involvement.  Youth should write the governor - get them to write essays for the high school newspapers on Why Alcohol Companies Should not Be Writing Laws.  Make it a contest for the best essay. Attached is an article from the Journal of Public Health that outlines the industry strategy then and it is still true today.