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Senate & House Panels to Hold August 9 Pittsburgh Hearing
on Underage Drinking
HARRISBURG -- Members
of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control Committee will
hold a joint meeting in Pittsburgh on August 9th to seek input on how to address
the growing problem of underage drinking, according to Senator John Rafferty
(R-44), chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. The hearing will be
held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 9th, in the William Pitt Union Ballroom at the
University of Pittsburgh. The ballroom is located at 3959 Fifth Avenue.
Senator John Pippy (R-Pittsburgh) will also take part in the hearing.
Rafferty said the joint
Senate/House hearing is the fourth in a series of statewide meetings on how to
prevent underage drinking. Among those scheduled to testify are Allegheny
County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht, law enforcement officials, a representative of
the University of Pittsburgh, medical personnel, and anti-drinking advocates.
“Our goal is to seek input
on the problem, find potential solutions and discover ways the Legislature can
help to meet funding needs and develop legislation to combat this growing
problem,” Rafferty said. “Alcohol is the most frequently abused drug by high
school seniors, and its use is increasing. The American Public Health
Association estimates that two-thirds of high school seniors consume alcohol,
with one-third of those being binge drinkers.”
Rafferty said the Senate Law
and Justice Committee and House Liquor Control Committee has already held three
hearings in Philadelphia and Harrisburg. He said the panels are seeking public
input on the problem and proposed solutions from educators, representatives of
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking,
law enforcement officials and parents.
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