LT. GOVERNOR AIONA JOINS WITH LEGISLATORS, POLICE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CALL FOR A HEARING ON UNDERAGE DRINKING BILL
For Immediate Release: April 7, 2005
SB706 stalled in Judiciary Committee without a hearing
HONOLULU — Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. today urged the chair of the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on a significant bill that would reduce underage drinking. SB706 would suspend the driver’s licenses of minors who are convicted of possessing alcohol, regardless of whether they were driving at the time. Thirty-seven other states have similar laws.
Despite overwhelming support from the community, the bill is stalled in the House Judiciary Committee because of one legislator – the chair, Rep. Sylvia Luke, who has not scheduled a hearing. If the bill does not pass out of Luke’s committee by Friday, it will be dead for this session. The bill has already passed successfully out of the Senate Transportation and Judiciary Committees, as well as the House Transportation Committee. SB706 is supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD Youth in Action, Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, Maui County Council, Hawai`i Food Industry Association, University of Hawai`i Parents Association, Wai`anae Men in Recovery and numerous other community organizations and individuals.
“Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the police, youth advocates, health experts, and substance and alcohol abuse treatment providers all support this measure because they believe it will greatly enhance efforts to curb underage drinking,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “We strongly encourage Rep. Luke to give this bill a fair hearing and to allow the community to provide their input and discuss the impact it could have in discouraging underage drinking among our youth.
“We need to change the culture of thinking and let our children know that underage drinking is illegal and cannot be tolerated,” added the Lt. Governor. “Because a driver’s license is so important to teens, SB706 will send a strong message to minors that there will be consequences for breaking the law and it will make them think twice before drinking.”
Alcohol Awareness Month Activities
The broadly supported push to keep the underage drinking bill alive coincided with the 19th Annual Alcohol Awareness Month. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence established Alcohol Awareness Month as a nationwide effort to provide the American public with information about the disease of alcoholism and the serious problem of alcohol abuse.
Throughout the month of April and extending into May, various activities around the state will focus on the importance of stopping underage drinking and driving under the influence. Events will include:
· Sign waving rallies by youth groups and schools to raise awareness of underage drinking.
· Distribution of alcohol-free pledge forms by Mothers Against Drunk Driving to schools statewide. MADD will also distribute educational materials to the schools.
· School presentations on underage drinking by Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai`i.
· Operation Store Front for Alcohol, an effort by Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai`i to provide merchants with information on Hawai`i’s alcohol laws.
Classroom Teach-Ins
From May 2 to 12, Lt. Governor Aiona and community members will visit fifth grade classes across the state to conduct Teach-Ins, a program which addresses harmful effects of alcohol use. In addition to the Lt. Governor, leaders from across the community will participate in the Teach-Ins. Volunteers who have committed to visit students and carry the alcohol-free message include: Mayor Mufi Hannemann, American Idol Finalist Jasmine Trias, UH Basketball Coach Riley Wallace, UH Basketball Assistant Coaches Bob Nash and Jackson Wheeler, UH Baseball Coach Mike Trapasso, UH Football Assistant Coach Rich Miano, UH Women’s Basketball Coach Jim Bolla, UH Women’s Volleyball Coach Dave Shoji, UH Women’s Softball Coach Bob Coolen, Honolulu Police Department Major Bart Huber and Sgt. Bob Lung, KGMB News Anchor Jade Moon, Rep. Kymberly Pine and Councilmember Todd Apo.
For more information on Alcohol Awareness Month activities, visit the Hawai`i Drug Control Strategy Web site at: http://www.hawaii.gov/hawaiidrugcontrolstrategy.
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For more information, contact:
Celyn Chong Kee
Public Liaison
Office of the Lt. Governor
Phone: 586-0255
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Office of the Governor/Lt. Governor
Phone: 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Office of the Governor/Lt. Governor
Phone: 586-0043
