Proposed Bill Would Cut Down On Binge Drinking, Joke State Lawmakers

Story by Jacob Zlomke 

| Published Feb 1, 2011

A bill introduced to the Nebraska state legislature by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber would eliminate the “hour of power” between midnight and 2 AM for 21 year olds. The aim of the legislation is to curb binge drinking among college-aged students, according to a joke being passed around at the capitol building.

LB294 would disallow alcohol sales until six hours after one turns 21.

In a memo to other senators, Karpisek said, “with this bill, young kids won’t get too drunk before they know how to handle alcohol--because they totally haven’t been drinking for three years hahaha j/k, this bill is worthless.”

Karpisek said he mentioned the bill first to Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine, who “totally started cheesing” when he suggested it.

“Russ has a great sense of humor, but he isn’t kidding himself,” Fischer said. “He’s smart enough to know that those kids will be getting too drunk at bars or too drunk at their friends’ houses. It’s actually pretty funny that we would even entertain any other notion.”

Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege said he appreciates the joke.

“I remember what it’s like to be in college, going to ragers and stuff. You don’t have to be 21 to binge drink. In fact, it helps if you aren’t.”

Carlson continued, “mostly I like talking about this because it’s a good excuse not to address the issues with LB48 [an immigration bill modeled after Arizona’s controversial law].”