[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6146-H6147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       UNDERAGE DRINKING AND FTC WE DON'T SERVE TEENS INITIATIVE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the topic 
of underage drinking. It is an issue that challenges every generation 
of public officials, parents, educators, law enforcement, industry 
members, and concerned citizens. But through bipartisan leadership and 
almost three decades of public and private effort, our Nation has made 
some substantial progress. I mention ``bipartisan'' because it was 
President Reagan who teamed up with Democrats in Congress to enact the 
National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.

                              {time}  1050

  At the signing ceremony, the President's remarks are a great lesson 
in federalism and national leadership that remains very important 
today. He said that underage drinking is a problem that is ``bigger 
than the individual States.'' He called underage drinking a ``grave 
national problem'' that ``touches all our lives.'' President Reagan 
concluded, ``With the problem so clearcut and the proven solution at 
hand, we have no misgiving about this judicious use of Federal power.''
  I said that this was a bipartisan effort. Our colleague from the 
other body, Senator Lautenberg from New Jersey, was instrumental in 
guiding the measure through Congress, and he continues to be a forceful 
advocate for young people today.
  According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the number 
of fatalities in teen drunk driving crashes has declined 74 percent 
since the early 1980s. Studies from the Department of Transportation 
and Government Accountability Office indicate that the 21-year-old 
drinking age has saved tens of thousands of lives. Most government 
measures of underage drinking have also declined.
  Parents, educators, and other adults who have influence on young 
people need to recognize that older teens are still capable of making 
youthful mistakes, and some of these mistakes can be fatal. We should 
not do anything that allows our young people to obtain alcohol before 
they reach the legal drinking age. We need to remain involved in their 
lives and do everything we can to encourage and insist that they make 
responsible decisions.
  Back in 2006, our colleague Lucille Roybal-Allard led the effort to 
enact the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, better known 
as the STOP Act. The law established a framework for cooperation among 
Federal agencies with responsibility to address underage drinking. In 
mid-July, we received a report from the Federal Interagency 
Coordinating Committee that was formally established by the STOP Act. 
It documents Federal Government prevention initiatives across

[[Page H6147]]

17 agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, which created the 
We Don't Serve Teens program as a public education and outreach 
initiative.
  The 2011 launch of We Don't Serve Teens occurred last week in Chicago 
and throughout the Nation. One purpose of the We Don't Serve Teens 
initiative is to inform parents and all adults that teen drinking is 
not inevitable. Crown Imports and MillerCoors, the number two and 
number three American beer suppliers, are both headquartered in the 
district I represent in Chicago. Both companies have supported the We 
Don't Serve Teens program since it began in 2006.
  I am pleased that these two companies have joined the FTC, Members of 
Congress, Chicago officials, and thousands of concerned citizens to 
support We Don't Serve Teens. We need everyone at the table. Industry 
members have a unique ability to reach out directly to local stores, 
bars, restaurants, and other places where alcohol is served.
  The We Don't Serve Teens message is reinforced. I commend these 
efforts. I especially commend the distributors of these alcoholic 
beverages in their effort to make sure that teens handle alcohol 
responsibly. The best way is to not drink at all.

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