The General Affairs Committee heard testimony Jan. 24 on a bill intended to discourage 21st birthday binge drinking.<\/p>\n
LB294, sponsored by Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek, would make it unlawful for a liquor license holder to sell or serve alcohol to any person prior to 6 a.m. on that person\u2019s 21st birthday.<\/p>\n
Karpisek said the bill is meant to address the \u201chour of power\u201d \u2013 the time between 12:01 a.m. and bar close on an individual\u2019s 21st birthday. During that hour, he said, young people are traditionally pressured to drink a great deal of alcohol in a short period of time.<\/p>\n
The bill is an additional way that the committee and the state\u2019s Liquor Control Commission can help make Nebraska\u2019s alcohol retailers more accountable and more professional, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is another way to try to make sure that people don\u2019t get so drunk so fast,\u201d Karpisek said. \u201cEspecially when they\u2019re not ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hobert Rupe, executive director of the Liquor Control Commission, testified in support of the bill, saying it would help licensees comply with state law prohibiting them from serving individuals to the point of \u201cvisible intoxication.\u201d The problem with the hour of power, he said, is that it does not allow enough time for an individual to exhibit visible signs of intoxication.<\/p>\n
Lincoln bar owner Troy Falk also testified in support of the bill, saying his establishment already has a policy against serving 21-year-olds during the time in question.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are responsible for them after they\u2019re intoxicated,\u201d he said, adding that the hour of power does nothing more than promote unsafe drinking practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next day there\u2019s not that rush to get in as many shots as possible,\u201d Falk said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to have a safe drinking environment for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diane Riibe of Project Extra Mile testified in a neutral capacity, saying there is no evidence to show that the change would be effective in curbing binge drinking.<\/p>\n
There was no opposition testimony given and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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