Keg IDs in the offing?

Keg IDs in the offing? ^ | Jan. 25, 2005 | JOSEPH THOMAS

[AdamSelene235]

In an attempt to curb alcohol related deaths among young people, state Rep. Gary Lindstrom, D-Breckenridge, last week proposed a bill that would mandate kegs of beer be marked with identification tracking tags.

The keg identification - a recyclable tag bearing an identification number attached to the keg - would allow police to track the sales of kegs for up to six months after the purchase. Additionally, it will enable police to more quickly and efficiently identify those who provide kegs to minors.

"This bill gives law enforcement a tool in their investigation to find out who has purchased alcohol where a minor has either had a problem or has died," said Lindstrom.

Without the tags police departments can have trouble identifying who bought the keg. Culpability can be derived from the identity of the person who bought the keg.

"It (the alcohol related deaths) is certainly a very good reason to do what we can to find out who is buying alcohol for our children," said Lindstrom.

Colorado saw six students on five campuses, including one at CU and two at Colorado State University, die in alcohol-related incidents last fall. Several lawmakers took note and have introduced legislation intended to prevent future deaths.

This is the third time in three years that keg IDs have been proposed. The last two years the legislation didn't even make it out of the committee.

Last year the Business Affairs and Labor Committee narrowly voted against the bill 7-6. Some members from the committee cited as a reason for voting against the legislation that the scope isn't wide enough.

"Although this legislation is a well intended measure to reduce underage drinking, I am not confident that it will cut down on minors drinking," said state Sen. Ron Tupa D-Boulder. "It may motivate minors to drink beverages with higher alcohol content."

Currently 22 states have keg identification laws.

Even though the concept of keg tracking is unprecedented in Colorado, several municipalities have tried keg identification on a local level. The city of Boulder uses a volunteer program which liquor stores can choose to use the keg identification. Also, the city of Loveland has a mandatory keg identification policy, where all liquor stores in the city limits are required to mark their kegs upon sale.

The Boulder Police Department said it is hard to track the merits of its voluntary program.

"Effectiveness is relative because the sources (of keg beer) may be coming out of our jurisdiction," said Julie Brooks, public information officer for the Boulder Police Department.

Brooks noted that even kegs which are purchased within Boulder proper could be hard to track. One could cut or scrape off the keg identification to avoid prosecution, she said.

Coors Brewery in Golden declined to comment on the legislation.

Lindstrom said that he thinks he has enough support for the bill to pass the committee. He also said that he thinks the bill has enough support to pass through the Colorado House.

There is some agreement that regardless the outcome of this legislation, the emphasis still should be placed upon responsible drinking.

"I doubt the legislature can do anything meaningful to cut down on underage drinking; instead we should focus on young adults drinking more responsibly," said Tupa.

[dead]

state Rep. Gary Lindstrom, D-Breckenridge

Also known as “Mom”.

[Semper Paratus]

Kegs don't cause crime.
Clymers drinking too much from kegs do!

[July 4th]

Next thing you know, there will be required taggant additives in the beer, so when you piss on the sidewalk they can track you down.

[stainlessbanner]

come and get it

[Sam's Army]

Maybe its just me, but I've never heard of a keg induced drinking death.

Now liquor, yeah, plenty.

[AppyPappy]

Rep: Boys, the newspapers are saying there is a problem with college students drinking. What we need is a catch phrase:
Rep: How about "binge drinking"?
Rep: Brilliant. Now we need an empty gesture to show the public we are sincere about fixing the problem. Nothing concrete. We don't want to eat this thing on Election Day.
Rep: How about a billboard?
Rep: How about a commercial?
Rep: How about a Pudding Wrestling Math with the cheerleaders?
Rep: How about a sticker to put on kegs?
Rep: Brilliant. Our work is done. Who wants to go fleece a taxpayer?
Reps: Oooh. Oooh. Pick me. Pick me!

[petercooper]

Winnie the Pooh says "Track this!"

[AdamSelene235]

I'd never thought about or heard of (where've I been?) keg ID before, but it sounds like good idea to me.

How do you feel about wrist tattoos?

[goldwater64]

Hey, here in Wisconsin, you start off with beer, then tequila, brandy, schnapps, whatever, then engage in practically anything guaranteed to get your name in the papers. Plus, we start in high school. Besides, here it is a cultural thing, so this law would be hate speech.

[Who dat?]

I'd never thought about or heard of (where've I been?) keg ID before, but it sounds like good idea to me.

Well, maybe it was a regional thing but I can recall liquor stores recording numbers from a keg, tap, and license of the person purchasing the beer. In that case, my understanding is because they wanted their tap and keg back – not so much to “track” who purchased it (unless they bailed out with their equipment).

I recall that it was a $50 deposit for tap and $50 for the keg (plus the plastic ice bucket/garbage can).

I have no idea what their real value was, but they seemed more interested in getting their empty keg and tap back than keeping your $100. That could’ve been some sort of ID put on by the distributor or something, I suppose.

[hobbes1]

But if they fail the Keystone Kops kan keep kontrol of the kegs.

[Fido969]

I hate it when the State Legislators are in session.

[trebb]

And how would they prove that an individual imbibed from a certain keg?????

[cksharks]

Since he is a demmocommie he had to have drank like a fish and consumed a lot of drugs. So from the tone of the bill we can rest assured he bought drugs and alcohol when he was young, Thus arrest that p---k. YOU HAVE SOMEONE OF AGE BUY THIS . What a loon.

[AdamSelene235]

state Rep. Gary Lindstrom, D-Breckenridge Also known as “Mom”.

He's a deep thinker, ya know:

I remember the Monkees' song from the 1960s, "Pleasant Valley Sunday," about living in the suburbs, backyard parties and barbecues.That is what I tried to be 40 years ago. Much earlier in my life, I wore cowboy boots and had a belt with a large buckle. The neighbors would kid me and call me "Tex." I guess I wanted to be a cowboy then. I still wear cowboy boots and a belt with a big buckle. Maybe that is my identity. -GARY LINDSTROM

[AdamSelene235]

Since he is a demmocommie he had to have drank like a fish and consumed a lot of drugs.

You know, more than 90 percent of murders are committed by a family member? -Rep. Gary Lindstrom

Ya think?

[July 4th]

Maybe its just me, but I've never heard of a keg induced drinking death.

It usually happened a couple of times a year at the University of Wisconsin - death solely from too much beer. However, deaths from people drunk on beer doing stupid things were far more common, like falling off of balcony ledges or trying to climb walls.