SB2505 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 18453 LJB 53767 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2505

Introduced 1/18/2006, by Sen. John J. Cullerton

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Alcohol Without Liquid Device Act. Prohibits the purchase, sale, and use of devices that mix alcoholic liquor with oxygen for the purpose of inhalation. Provides that a person who violates the Act commits a petty offense and may be fined up to $1,000 per occurrence. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning alcoholic liquor.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Alcohol Without Liquid Device Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

"Alcohol without liquor device" or "AWOL device" means a device that mixes spirits with pure oxygen to produce a cloudy vapor that can be inhaled or snorted.

"Alcohol" has the same meaning as in Section 1-3.01 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.

"Alcoholic liquor" has the same meaning as in Section 1-3.05 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.

"Spirits" has the same meaning as in Section 1-3.02 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.

Section 10. Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The General Assembly hereby finds and determines the following:

(1) An AWOL device enables people to "snort" alcoholic liquor through a tube into the nose or mouth, rather than drinking through the mouth.

(2) By bypassing the stomach and the filter of the liver, alcohol vapor is absorbed through blood vessels in the nose or lungs, creating a quicker and more intense effect on the brain.

(3) Experts have claimed that the practice of inhaling alcohol vapor is linked to brain damage.

(4) The popularity of AWOL devices is increasing in the nightclub and bar businesses throughout the country. It is being marketed as a way to get high without the hangover as well as a "dieter's dream" way of drinking since there are no calories derived from inhaling the alcohol.

(5) During the past 2 decades, 5 major studies have estimated the economic costs of alcohol abuse in the United States at approximately $185,000,000,000 for 1998.

(6) More than 70% of the estimated costs of alcohol abuse for 1998 were attributed to lost productivity ($134,200,000,000), including losses from alcohol-related illness ($87,600,000,000), premature death ($36,500,000,000), and crime ($10,100,000,000). The remaining estimated costs included health care expenditures ($26,300,000,000), as well as property and administrative costs of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes ($16,700,000,000), and criminal justice system costs of alcohol related crime ($6,300,000,000).

(7) By the time they reach the eighth grade, nearly 50% of adolescents have had at least one alcoholic drink, and over 20% report having been drunk. Approximately 20% of 8th graders and almost 50% of 12th graders have consumed alcoholic liquor within the past 30 days. Approximately 30% of 12th graders engage in heavy episodic drinking, now popularly termed "binge" drinking, which consists of having at least 5 drinks of alcoholic liquor on one occasion within a 2-week period, and it is estimated that 20% do so on more than one occasion. Apart from being illegal, underage drinking poses a high risk to both the individual and society. The rate of alcohol-related traffic crashes is greater for drivers ages 16 to 20 than for drivers age 21 and older.

(8) Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all other illegal drugs combined.

(9) AWOL devices have been banned in parts of Britain and Australia, but are gaining more popularity in the United States. They are available for sale and distribution through the Internet and dealerships are in the process of being established in Florida, California, and New York.

(b) The purpose of this Act is to ban the sale, purchase, and use of Alcohol With Out Liquid (AWOL) devices and alcohol vapor devices in Illinois.

Section 15. Prohibitions. No person shall purchase, offer for sale, or use an AWOL device or alcohol vapor device within this State. Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this Section 15 commits a petty offense and may be fined up to $1,000. Each violation of this Section constitutes a separate and distinct offense.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.