Twenty percent of high school seniors in Utah binge drink on at least a monthly basis. The number of underage DUI arrests in the state has increased 30 percent since 2002. Forty percent of children who binge drink before they are 16 will become alcoholics.

Those were just a few of the statistics mentioned on the Senate floor Tuesday in support of an Eliminating Alcohol Sales to Youth proposal, or EASY, sponsored by Sen. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City.

The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on second reading, would funnel an additional $2.2 million annually toward compliance checks at stores to ensure they are not selling alcohol to minors, as well as statewide advertising campaigns. It faces one more vote in the Senate before proceeding to the House.

Knudson said the bill would increase the percentage of beer excise tax that goes toward alcohol enforcement and treatment by 20 percent. In 1982-83, 61 percent of Beer Excise Tax went toward enforcement and treatment, but by 2002-03, that had dropped to 25 percent, with the remainder being used for general fund purposes.

EASY would reimburse law enforcement for up to four compliance checks per business per year. It also would require training for those who sell alcohol or supervise the sale of alcohol and set up a database to track compliance.

SB 58: Alcoholic Beverage Amendments

Sen. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City

This bill would funnel more money annually toward compliance checks at stores to ensure they are not selling alcohol to minors.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A5.