ALBANY - Law Enforcement Against Drunk Driving (LEADD) announced its 2010 legislative agenda, which is aimed at reducing underage drinking and drunk driving in New York State.

The agenda includes rejecting dangerous proposals to legalize the sale of wine in grocery stores, gas stations, delis, bodegas and anywhere else beer is now sold, and passing a statewide social host law to hold parents and adults accountable for hosting parties for minors with alcohol.

“Underage drinking and drunk driving continue to be serious problems that result in far too many deaths and injuries, cost taxpayers billions of dollars every year and put significant strain on law enforcement in every community in New York State,” said LEADD Chairman Dan Sisto. “New York has made great strides in combating these problems, but we cannot rest on our laurels. We must look for new ways to keep our teenagers and communities safe.”

LEADD’s Three-Point agenda includes:

1. Combating proposals to legalize the sale of wine in 19,000 new outlets, or wherever beer is now sold. While the State Legislature rejected the idea last year, Governor Paterson has threatened to reintroduce it this year;
2. Pass a statewide social host law similar to Nassau County’s local law to hold adults and parents accountable for hosting parties for teenagers where alcohol is served. Currently, the state does not have a social host law that would hold parents accountable for minors who drink alcohol at their homes;  
3. Stiffening the penalties for illegally using a New York State driver’s license to purchase alcohol for minors. Under current law, the first offense carries a fine of just $100 or less, or community service, or alcohol awareness program, or a three-month license suspension. This proposal would increase the penalty to $500 and mandate a three-month license suspension, with similar increases for subsequent offenses.

“LEADD’s bold agenda recognizes that parents must play an active role in fighting underage drinking, and must be held accountable if they ignore the problem in their own homes,” said Joyce Davis, Co-Chairman of the New York State Capital District Parents Who Host Lose the Most Steering Committee and Chairman of the New York State Environmental Prevention Task Force. “It’s time for the State Legislature to embrace the social host law, which we believe is a critical component to reducing underage drinking.”

Last year, LEADD joined the successful effort to pass Leandra’s Law, which makes it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the car, while also spearheading a successful effort to defeat Governor Paterson’s dangerous proposal to legalize the sale of wine wherever beer is now sold.