Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons - Underage Drinking Roundtable

November 9, 2006

Sen. Michael R. Gibbons Leads Roundtables

Combating Underage Drinking

Law Enforcement, Students, Educators and Legislators

Among Several Groups Participating

Senate President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons is leading roundtable forums across the state with various Senate colleagues to discuss ways to combat underage drinking in Missouri.

Hosted in communities within several Missouri State Highway Patrol regions and featuring local leaders, students, law enforcement representatives and other interested citizens, the collaborative roundtables are also identifying the impact of new, tougher underage drinking laws.

Roundtable discussions in highway patrol troop regions C, D, E and F were held in September and October. Roundtable events to be held in November include:

Troop B Regional Underage Drinking Roundtable

Time: 11 a.m.
Date: Monday, November 13, 2006
Location: Troop B Conference Room
308 Pine Crest Drive Macon, MO

Counties: Adair, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Sullivan.

Troop I Regional Underage Drinking Roundtable

Time: 10:30 a.m.
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Location: Troop I Conference Room
I-44, Exit 185 Rolla, MO

Counties: Crawford, Dent, LaClede, Maries,
Phelps and Pulaski.

Troop G Regional Underage Drinking Roundtable

Time: 2 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Location: Troop G Conference Room
Business US-60, East Willow Springs, MO

Counties: Carter, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas and Wright.

Troop A Regional Underage Drinking Roundtable

Time: 11 a.m.
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Location: Troop A Conference Room
504 East Blue Parkway Lee’s Summit, MO

Counties: Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clay,
Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette,
Pettis, Platte, Ray and Saline.

Troop H Regional Underage Drinking Roundtable

Time: 2 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Location: Troop H Conference Room
Business I-29 and US-169 St. Joseph, MO

Counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway and Worth.

New provisions adding and increasing penalties for underage drinking became law on Aug. 28, 2005. Under the new law, a minor could now be found guilty of a “minor in possession" if he or she is visibly intoxicated or has a blood alcohol content of more than .02. Any minor found guilty of a “minor in possession” will also lose their driver’s license for 30 days for a first offense. The law also prohibits adults from allowing minors to drink on their private property, even if they did not provide the alcohol.

“These roundtables along with the new laws on the books are part of a concerted, collaborative effort to protect our children and help them say ‘no’ when confronted with underage drinking,” Senator Gibbons said.

For more information, contact Farrah Fite:

(573) 751-1562 – ffite@senate.mo.gov