A bill to be prefiled in the S.C. House and Senate this week would create a collection of policies its sponsors hope will slow the carnage caused by underage drinking.

Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland and Rep. Ted Pitts, R-Lexington, announced the bill at a news conference this morning.

The bill will be prefiled Wednesday in the House and Senate. It:

• makes it illegal for minors to attempt to purchase and to consume alcohol,

• puts penalties for possession of beer and wine on par with penalties for possession of liquor penalties,

• mandates completion of an alcohol education program as part of a sentence,

• exempts minors participating with law enforcement agencies in undercover operations from being charged with a possession or attempt to purchase crime,

• requires parents to be notified when their child of 18 years or younger is charged with an alcohol offense,

• doubles the minimum drivers license suspension to 6 months,

• raises the penalties for selling alcohol to minors by $100 for a first offense,

• requires mandatory merchant education for any salesperson convicted of selling alcohol to an underage person,

• creates a "social host" offense for those who knowingly allow underage alcohol consumption on their property, and

• creates a keg registration policy to assist law enforcement in identifying the source of any keg.

—Kelly Davis with Rick Brundrett