You asked if any state has requirements to control drinking by minors when a bar holds an "all-age" concert.

SUMMARY

We searched state legislation, talked with task force coordinators and spoke with several state agencies and didn't find any state that has specifically established requirements to control drinking by minors at "all-age" concerts. However, one state has tried to strictly enforce compliance checks at bars and another state has established alcohol monitors to help prevent underage drinking at all-age events. In addition, two states allow all-age events if the alcohol is confined to limited areas.

MISSISSIPPI-STATE ENFORCEMENT

According to Bill Perrett, the Program Coordinator of Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Program, Mississippi has a statewide program that does compliance checks at bars, especially in college towns. The compliance checks are strictly enforced. Last year, more than 7,900 bars were fined for allowing minors in.

The Mississippi Legislature unsuccessfully passed a bill to prohibit anyone below age 21 from entering a bar or club.

MINNESOTA-VOLUNTARY ACTION

Two bar owners, located near the University of Minnesota, voluntarily stopped scheduling all-age events. In 1998, the two bar owners and the president of the St. Paul Hospitality Association attended a community meeting sponsored by the University of Minneapolis's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Task Force. Different alcohol-related issues were discussed at the meeting. One of the topics was the "all-age" nights. The task force convinced the bar owners to stop holding all-age events from their establishments. The argument that was presented was "That in an all-ages environment, minors are going to get alcohol; that you could never be 100 percent compliant. " (www. citypages. com)

OREGON-CONFINED AREA AND MONITORS

In 1999, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission proposed a rule that would ban any all-age venues that have space for their patrons to dance from serving alcohol anywhere in the building, but the proposal never passed. Currently the Oregon Liquor Control Commission allows all-age events if they are confined to an area where alcohol can be limited to those of legal drinking age.

In addition, Oregon has implemented alcohol monitors statewide. These monitors keep an eye on the crowd and watch for underage drinking at basketball games and music festivals where drinks are served. A certain number of alcohol monitors are required at such events.

WASHINGTON-ALLOWED WITH CONTROLS

The Washington State Liquor Board recently changed its rule to allow minors access to all-age concerts in existing 21 and over clubs, provided that strict controls are in place to eliminate access to liquor during the performance.

KDA: eh