Recently in Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a new law that would require anyone under the age of 21 who is convicted of an alcohol offense to submit to mandatory random alcohol tests. While I applaud Michigan’s efforts to combat underage drinking, I think it is important that the Governor, and other state leaders, go a step further and work to limit youth access to alcohol by going after those that provide alcohol to minors, and after those minors that use fake IDs to buy alcohol illegally.

At Diageo, we are proud of our long-term commitment to fighting underage drinking. Our efforts, along with the work of many others, are getting positive results in the big measures that count: the incidence of drunk driving and underage drinking. Yet, despite our best efforts, and the great progress over the last 20 years to reduce underage drinking in the US, far too many young people still drink. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 18% of young people between 12 and 18 reported drinking in the last month. And more than half of young people between 18 and 20 reported the same thing.

What keeps those numbers so high? Not retailers, in fact, only a small percentage of young people say they buy alcohol beverages from retailers who don’t check IDs.

No, the real culprits behind the underage drinking problem in the US are the adults who buy alcohol for young people and the young people who use fake IDs to try to fool retailers.

Studies by government agencies and public health organizations recognize the important role limiting underage access plays in addressing underage drinking. These studies are confirmed by Century Council research that shows 65% of underage drinkers get their alcohol from family and friends, while only 7% obtain it from a store or bar that does not check ID.

That’s why we are working with state legislators and regulators, retailers, wholesalers, law enforcement agencies and parents to support a state legislative initiative to prevent underage access. This initiative is aimed at establishing zero tolerance for adults who provide alcohol to minors and for minors who drink or attempt to purchase alcohol beverages.

The legislation targets both the adults who buy or provide, through non-commercial means, alcohol for young people and the young people who use fake IDs, by taking their driver’s license away through “Automatic Driver’s License Revocation” (ALR).

If minors cannot get alcohol, they cannot drink it. That is why we are targeting access with this legislation. Government agencies and advocates agree that limiting access is the key to preventing underage drinking.

We are committed to seeing a decline in underage consumption and we look forward to working with state governments across the country as we try to find real solutions to the underage age drinking problem.