Anheuser-Busch Praises California Legislature for Approving Underage-Drinking Prevention Bill

19/09/07 Anheuser-Busch applauded the California State Legislature for passing A.B. 1658, a bill that increases the fines for minors caught attempting to purchase alcohol or manufacture fake I.D.s.

"We commend bill sponsor Assemblywoman Sharon Runner and members of the State Assembly and State Senate for taking this significant step to help fight underage drinking among California youth by cracking down on fake I.D.s," stated Andrew Baldonado, region vice president of Government Affairs at Anheuser-Busch.

The legislation contains a number of provisions to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors, including increased penalties for teens caught purchasing or attempting to procure alcohol, possessing fraudulent identification, or manufacturing or selling false identification cards.

"This law will help complement and reinforce the declines in underage drinking that have occurred here in California," Baldonado noted. "According to the federal  government's most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 84 percent of California adolescents, ages 12 to 17, are doing the right thing by not drinking. Likewise, teen drunk-driving fatalities are down 45 percent statewide since 1990, according to the Department of Transportation."