FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gabrielle A. Prutisto House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: gprutist@pahouse.net	State Rep. Joseph Brennan D-Lehigh/Northampton www.pahouse.com/Brennan
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Brennan bill would encourage bars and clubs to

curb underage drinking

HARRISBURG, June 15 – State Rep. Joseph Brennan, D-Lehigh/Northampton, has introduced legislation that would give bars, clubs and other liquor licensees an incentive to use new technology to prevent underage drinking at their establishments.

Brennan’s legislation (H.B 1512) would give establishments that utilize age verification devices a break on their annual liquor license renewal fee.

“The whole goal here is to stop underage drinking before it starts,” Brennan said. “Too often kids under 21 are walking into bars, giving a fake ID and being served alcohol. This age verification technology can tell right away who is lying.”

Age verification devices can detect invalid driver’s licenses from all 50 states by reading the bar code on the back of the license. The devices also have the ability to stamp the time and record the name, date of birth, expiration date and driver’s license number of the patron entering the establishment.

Brennan’s legislation would not require establishments to implement age verification technology, but he said he believes the license fee rebate and other provisions in the bill would encourage more to do so.

“I know it costs money to buy this technology, but I really do believe that many establishments will recoup that investment by catching potential underage drinkers and avoiding hefty fines or even the suspension or loss of their license,” he said.

For more information on the legislation, contact Brennan’s Harrisburg office at 717-772-9902.

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