Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, March 8, 1999

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Jill Homan March 8, 1999 202/225-3061 CONGRESSMAN EHRLICH PULLS PL UG ON INTERNET AI.COHOt. SALES TO MINORS WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich (R-MD) is taking major steps in preventing children from purchasing alcohol on the Internet. As the lead sponsor of the “State Responsible Alcohol Access Enforcement Act”, a bill to allow states to enforce their laws in federal court with respect to interstate shipment of alcohol, Congessman Ehrlich will testify before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: Who: Congressman Ehrlich to testify Date: Tuesday, March 9 Time: 10:00AM Location: Senate Dirkson Building, Room 226 Washington, D.C. “The advent of the Internet has opened up many possibilities for today’s youth,” Congressman Ehrlich stated. “One of its unhappier consequences is that unsupervised teenagers with access to a credit card number and a PC can purchase alcohol beverages without ever leaving home. This legislation prevents this access and will restore peace of mind to parents of today’s high-tech teens.” Ehrlich cited the sting operations conducted by the New York State’s Attorney’s Office last year which uncovered 12 wine and liquor distributors which allegedly delivered alcohol to minors without demanding proof of age. Ehrlich noted that current law renders state regulators powerless to deal with this problem. States have authority to regulate the sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol beverages pursuant to the Twenty- First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While existing federal law prohibits the shipment of alcohol