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Mississippi may make it a misdemeanor to provide alcohol to minors
By Staff Writer
 Many parents who want to impress their children and their friends host parties involving alcohol. Although adult supervision is often involved, legislators are working to stress that underage drinking is illegal, regardless of the circumstances. Recently, Mississippi lawmakers proposed Senate Bill 2597 and House Bill 504, also known as the social host bills, according to the Northside Sun. If they make it through, both regulations will deem it a criminal misdemeanor to provide alcohol to minors. HB 504 has passed and is now headed to the Senate Judiciary B Committee, which will determine if the regulation will become law, while Senate Bill 2597 is expected to be voted in over the next week. State senator David Blount told the news source that he expects both proposals to make it through the system with little difficulty. Adults who willingly provide alcohol to minors will face up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 in fines. The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 42 percent of high school students had consumed alcohol within a 30-day span, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug rehab programs can help kids who are struggling with a dependency to alcohol.
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