More Teens Shopping For Alcohol Online

Very Few Safeguards In Place

Posted: 10:15 pm CDT August 3, 2006

The ease of buying alcohol online hasn't changed over the years, but now more teens know about the practice.

With an Internet search engine, teens have access to arguably the largest liquor store, WISC-TV reported.

"It's a significant problem," said Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. "We're not sure to the degree of the problem."

A 2003 National Academy of Sciences Report showed 10 percent of teens are buying their alcohol online, and the number continues to grow.

"Some places they're used to, like MySpace.com -- word travels fast through sites like that," said Mary Beth Manning from Aro Counseling.

A Web site named pointclickdrink.com shows how easy it is for teens to buy alcohol online. In a video on the site, an underage teen is seen ordering a bottle of liquor online, and it arrives days later without any questions asked.

"Our students, our young people are very computer-wise, so they know how to get at this and word travels fast," Manning said.

Lautenschlager said that hopefully Congress will recognize the importance of the issue and tackle it.

Lautenschlager, along with 34 other attorneys general across the country, have tried to ban these purchases. But a recent Supreme Court ruling found it violates the Dormant Commerce Clause.

"The bottom line is still unless we have the tools to limit, we really have an enforcement nightmare on our hands," Lautenschlager said.

Twenty-one states currently have laws on the books banning online sales of alcohol, but Lautenschlager said those likely would be tossed out in court due to the Dormant Commerce Clause.

Experts advised concerned parents to keep a watch on what their kids are doing online. They also suggested parents look at credit and debit cards statements and watch for a change in behavior, which can be a sign of drug abuse.

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