New state law taps keg buyers for name, address, birthdate

Just in time for Fourth of July celebrations, a new state law is on tap that requires kegs to be registered to their buyers.

Authorities are hoping the law, which takes effect Thursday, will make underage drinking a bit harder.

The legislation passed in May 2003 along with a range of issues, including allowing earlier alcohol sales on Sunday, and most of it took effect last year. But the provision on keg registration is taking effect at the start of the state's fiscal year.

The new law requires retailers to attach a tag to each keg sold containing at least four gallons of beer or other liquor, allowing law enforcement to trace it back to the buyer. The store must keep records for at least three months with the buyer's name, address and birth date.

If people return the keg to the store with the tag removed, they lose their deposit.

The idea is that if someone bought a keg and supplied it to those younger than 21, and the party was broken up or someone got hurt driving home, law enforcement could identify who provided the alcohol and potentially pursue charges.

Sgt. Rick Schmidt with the Cape Girardeau Police Department said the new regulation should make his department's job easier.

"In the past, when we were called to a keg party, once we arrived no one owned the keg," Schmidt said. "With the registration, we'll be able to trace who purchased the keg and then if charges need to be filed, we can do that."

Doug Hileman, liquor manager at Schnucks, said his store has known about the legislation for a year and has prepared for the change.

"I don't think it will cause a whole lot of trouble," Hileman said.

Schnucks will have a registration form that includes customer information such as name, address, phone number and date of birth. Information about the keg -- gallons, brand and when it will be used -- also goes on the form.

"It's going to be a little bit more of a hassle," Hileman said. "There may be a longer wait because of the paperwork, but it will be business as usual."

Other retailers have similar concerns.

"It's more regulation that's not going to do anything," said David Overfelt, a lobbyist for the Missouri Retailers Association.

Still, he said, the final bill was the best the group could hope for. Several local governments have adopted their own keg registration rules, and Overfelt said one statewide policy would be simpler.

"Is it going to prevent minors from drinking? No," Overfelt said. "It's a feel-good thing for the anti-alcohol groups."

Plus, he argued, the result could be that people just switch to buying cases of beer, which require no registration.

In all, 26 states and the District of Columbia have keg registration laws, the National Conference of State Legislatures said, but it had no research on how effective they are.

In Missouri, the keg registration records on file can only be accessed by authorities, not by the public or alcohol awareness groups, state officials said.

Staff writer Callie Clark contributed to this report.