[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ALCOHOL TRAFFIC TO MINORS ACT PAAT ACT

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                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 1998

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing 
legislation to help save our Nation's children: The Prohibition Against 
Alcohol Traffic to Minors Act. The PAAT Act curbs the problem of 
underage drinking by prohibiting the ``direct shipment'' of alcoholic 
beverages to persons not meeting a State's legal drinking age.
  The bill amends Title 18, United States Code by inserting a new 
section after 1865 that prohibits shippers, their employees, common 
carriers or agents of common carriers or delivery companies from 
delivering a package containing an alcoholic beverage or compound, fit 
for consumption, to any person not meeting the minimum drinking age 
within a state.
  On Friday, December 12, 1997, a local NBC affiliate aired in which an 
underage youth ordered and received shipment of alcoholic beverages. 
The youth in question lived in New York, purchased the alcohol via the 
internet from a retailer in California, paid for the order with a 
credit card, and accepted delivery of the alcohol from a commercial 
air-freight carrier. This same story is also the subject of an 
undercover operation being conducted by the Attorney General of the 
State of New York. While this particular incident was documented by 
television cameras, there are numerous others that are not.
  According to the Center for Disease Control, 80.4% percent of the 
nation's high school students have had at least one drink of alcohol 
during their lifetime; 51.6% have had at least one drink in a 30 day 
period; and 32.6% qualify as ``episodic heavy drinkers'' having had 
five or more drinks on at least one occasion during a 30 day period.
  Sixty-nine percent of Americans polled oppose the direct shipment of 
alcohol to minors; 85% agree that the sale of alcoholic beverages over 
the Internet would give minors easier access to alcohol and could 
result in more abuse; and 70% of those polled don't trust delivery 
drivers to ensure that the recipient of alcoholic beverages via common 
carriers is at least 21 years of age.
  Direct shippers operate outside of the licensed distribution system. 
The licensed beverage distribution system is an essential and legal of 
the alcohol control process and contributes billions in federal and 
state taxes each year. Direct shipments circumvent these laws and robs 
states of tax revenues. Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and North 
Carolina have recently upgraded their laws to make ``direct shipment'' 
a felony. At least 26 other states have sent ``cease and desist'' 
letters to wineries or retailers urging them to stop illegal shipments.
  Every state has set 21 as the minimum drinking age. The passage of 
``21'' laws by states stopped underage drinkers from driving to another 
state to purchase alcohol. However, Internet and toll-free direct 
shipment creates a new technological way for underage drinkers to have 
alcohol shipped directly to the home.
  With ``shipments'' there is no regulatory system to guard against 
underage access and to collect alcohol beverage taxes. What started 
many years ago as a cottage industry to sell rare wines and micro 
brewed beer to connoisseurs has burgeoned into a billion dollar a year 
business.
  According to the Center for Disease Control, 80.4% percent of the 
nation's high school students have had at least one drink of alcohol 
during their lifetime; 51.6% have had at least one drink in a 30 day 
period; and 32.6% qualify as ``episodic heavy drinkers'' having had 
five or more drinks on at least one occasion during a 30 day period. 
This behavior is dangerous, life threatening and must be stopped. I ask 
that my colleagues support our nation's children and pass this 
important legislation.

Summary of the Prohibition Against Alcohol Traffic to Minors Act (PAAT 
                                  Act)

       The PAAT Act curbs the problem of underage drinking by 
     prohibiting the ``direct shipment'' of alcohol beverages to 
     persons not meeting a State's legal drinking age.
       The bill amends Title 18, United States Code by inserting a 
     new section (1866) after 1865 that prohibits shippers, their 
     employees, common carriers or agents of common carriers, 
     delivery companies, or business entities that deliver goods 
     from delivering a package containing an alcoholic beverage or 
     compound, fit for consumption, to any person not meeting the 
     minimum drinking age within a state.

     

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