Miss America Fights for Oklahoma Bill That Would Lower Number of Underage DUI Offenses, Curb Teenage Drinking, and Reduce Beer and Liquor Sales to Minors
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On February 27th, 2006, the newly crowned Miss America, Jennifer Berry, 22, spoke out in favor of Oklahoma House Bill 3056 at the Oklahoma State Capitol Building. The proposed legislation would increase fines and penalties to those drinking underage, but the people who sell beer and liquor to them as well. The legislation, if passed, would also curb drunk driving in teenagers, the number of Oklahoma DUI cases involving minors, as well as the number of alcohol-related fatalities in those under 21.
Jennifer Berry has been involved in the fight against underage drinking since she was 15 and lost a friend in an alcohol-related accident. Her 16-year-old friend and others had been drinking at Grand Lake in Oklahoma the night the accident occurred, and since then, Berry has been active with her hometown's chapter of Mother's Against Drunk Driving and helped out in sting operations with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. Berry talked about her role attempting to purchase beer and liquor for these sting operations stating, "more than half [of the stores] sold alcohol to me at 18 years old with my real driver's license." Results like this are what have prompted the House Health and Human Services Committee to introduce bills like 3056 to the Oklahoma State Legislature, penned by Representative Thad Balkman and Senator Jeff Rabon, that increase consequences not only to those doing the drinking, but to those providing the drinks.
Oklahoma House Bill 3056 proposes increasing fines to a maximum of $5,000 and a sentence of 5 years in prison to servers who repeatedly sell to minors. The hope is that, with these heightened consequences, beer and liquor store employees will be less willing to risk their pocketbook, liquor license, and livelihood to those who are underage. Sean Byrne, President of the Oklahoma Prevention Policy Alliance, the group that first proposed Oklahoma House Bill 3056, feels it is very likely the bill will be passed this year.
After being crowned Miss America on January 21st, Jennifer Berry has broadened her fight against underage drinking to a new national audience, while continuing to do all she can to help pass this proposed legislation in her home state of Oklahoma.
Audio file of Sen. Rabon discussing Oklahoma House Bill 3056
