Post by Logan on Apr 10, 2016 17:26:09 GMT -6
JUNEAU — After staunch opposition from the bar and restaurant industry, the Senate passed a scaled-back overhaul of Alaska’s alcohol laws and regulations on Friday.
Senate Bill 165 by Soldotna Republican Sen. Peter Micciche contains just a handful of recommendations from a larger rewrite of Alaska’s alcohol law, which was sidelined after industry opposition early in the session.
The most significant element of the SB 165 — and the reason Micciche got involved in the bill — would lower the penalties for underage drinking from a misdemeanor crime to a violation, akin to a ticket, to ensure a fairer and more consistent application of the law.
During the rewrite, the state found a largely inconsistent application of the existing minor consuming alcohol law. Some communities would be stricter with enforcement while others were more lenient, and it even varied by officer to officer.
Read more: www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/senate-passes-overhaul-of-alcohol-laws/article_108aeede-fef2-11e5-87a9-0b8c97d342cc.html
Senate Bill 165 by Soldotna Republican Sen. Peter Micciche contains just a handful of recommendations from a larger rewrite of Alaska’s alcohol law, which was sidelined after industry opposition early in the session.
The most significant element of the SB 165 — and the reason Micciche got involved in the bill — would lower the penalties for underage drinking from a misdemeanor crime to a violation, akin to a ticket, to ensure a fairer and more consistent application of the law.
During the rewrite, the state found a largely inconsistent application of the existing minor consuming alcohol law. Some communities would be stricter with enforcement while others were more lenient, and it even varied by officer to officer.
Read more: www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/senate-passes-overhaul-of-alcohol-laws/article_108aeede-fef2-11e5-87a9-0b8c97d342cc.html