NCJ Number
193679
Date Published
October 2000
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This chapter presents the formation of the Maryland Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition (MUDPC), a volunteer organization helping to lobby for State legislation requiring “keg registration” to reduce underage drinking.
Abstract
In 1993, under the governor’s office, the Maryland Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition (MUDPC) was established to offer public awareness, attain media advocacy, and lobby the State legislature to enact a law that would require keg registration. In 1994, the State legislature enacted a law requiring that a person buying a keg sign a registration form that would be attached to the keg. If an adult purchased a keg for an underage person or removed the registration form from the keg, they would be fined, as well as the merchant selling unregistered kegs. MUDPC was successful at using the media strategically, mobilizing supporters and lobbying lawmakers. Key government officials and law enforcement were convinced the law would reduce the amount of teen drinking at large parties. In addition to the keg law, the General Assembly enacted another coalition priority, a bill that cracked down on the use of false ID cards and the passage of a proposal (that later failed) holding adults responsible if they allowed minors to drink alcohol in their homes.