Following the lead of 26 other states, a bill is presently before the state House in Texas, proposing to require citizens to register when they want to purchase alcohol in kegs.
House Bill 2096 was first brought before the legislation April 1 of this year, and would require all retailers that sell alcohol in kegs and renting out the equipment, to attach a tag, sticker or engraving with an identification number when the keg is purchased.
Retailers would also have to collect identifying information from each customer.
According to the Texas Standing Tall (TST) organization, when a person rents a keg, they complete a form for their deposit. Through a number on the keg and registration form, the identity of the renter and the specific keg would be linked. Retailers would then keep on hand the registration information in the event that law enforcement needed to review them.
An average keg will hold about seven cases of beer, for a total of 168, 12-ounce servings. They are so popular because they provide more drinks for at a cheaper price for parties and events.
At approximately $75 a keg, one 12 oz serving would only cost 45 cents.
The TST boasts that this bill will help to enforce current laws. It is against the law for alcohol to be provided or sold to anyone under 21.
Although keg regulations are becoming stricter with these efforts, it still does not eliminate the responsibility of underage drinkers, nor does it completely prevent underage drinking.
“I would be surprised if it had much of an impact,” Lt. Jason Bone with the University Police Department said. “I don’t see that as a way of having a huge impact on that [underage drinking] at all.”
Often times when the police intervene with “desert,” “pasture,” or “house” parties, people scatter and the authorities are unable to identify who may have been responsible for providing alcohol to minors.
“We have two or three kegs in our evidence room and don’t know who they belong to,” Bone said.
As a part of National Alcohol Screening Day, free alcohol screenings were available in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on April 15. Students could also come to the Counseling Center any time that day with any questions or concerns.