5-15-13 brown jug bill passes assembly

The state Assembly has voted in favor of a Republican bill that would allow bars and liquor stores to sue underage patrons or their parents for $1,000.   The bill would allow anyone with a liquor license to bring civil lawsuits against underage patrons or their parent or guardians if the patrons are still minors. If the liquor license holder prevails, the judge must order the underage patron or their guardians to pay the establishment $1,000. The measure would not change any underage drinking laws in the state. Underage  people could still drink in bars with their parents or a spouse who's at
least 21.  Republican state senator, Rick Gudex is the senate sponsor of the Brown Jug  bill.  Gudex says retailers are forced to spend time and resources to protect themselves against underage drinkers, when he says the underage person should bear some of the financial burden.  Gudex says currently the underage person faces only a small penalty.