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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	June 26, 2015 02:29 PM
From:	Representative Thomas R. Caltagirone
To:	All House members
Subject:	Persons Not to Consume Alcohol Data-Base

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation requiring the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to create a “Persons Not to Consume Alcohol Data-Base.” The data-base shall include individuals identified in a Department of Transportation registry of habitual DUI offenders as well as individuals who apply to be self-excluded from purchasing libations from our State Liquor Stores. For the purposes of this legislation a habitual DUI offenders is someone that has been convicted of five (5) or more DUI’s and operating watercraft under the influence in the preceding 20 years. In order to purchase liquor or other alcoholic beverages from a state store, a person will be required to present identification so that the store clerk can check to see if the person is on the “Persons Not to Consume Alcohol Data-Base.” In addition, my bill will create a mechanism for individuals in recovery to self-exclude from purchasing alcohol from state stores much like the PA Gaming Control Board’s self-exclusion program. On Sunday, June 7, 2015, our Berks County community suffered a tragic loss when Reverend R. Lynn Koch, 53, was killed by a drunk driver. Lynn held a prominent role in the Glad Tidings Church where her husband Reverend Bryan Koch was the lead pastor for over 25 years. Lynn was with her husband when they were struck by Sean Eyrich and Bryan lost his leg due to his injuries. Eyrich, 31, had a blood alcohol level of 0.329 percent, more than four times the legal limit of 0.08 and when questioned by police he denied consuming alcohol but admitted to taking the prescription medications Vicodin, Percocet and Flexeril. This was the second time Eyrich was caught driving under the influence. In my opinion we need to get serious about keeping state store liquor and libations out of the hands of habitual DUI offenders. A huge advantage of owning and operating the state liquor stores is that we can implement strategies to keep liquor out of the hands of people that habitually get behind the wheel and drive while intoxicated. Plus, we will help individuals in recovery avoid gaining easy access of hard liquor during a lapse in judgement or a moment of weakness. We can do better to eliminate DUI deaths and I hope you will join me and support this legislation.

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