New rules to help control underage drinking will be reintroduced to the Story County Board of Supervisors this fall.

In addition to the keg-registration ordinance, more severe penalties for underage drinkers in Iowa were passed by the legislature last summer.

Last spring, Story County Attorney Steve Holmes proposed Ordinance No. 141 to the Board, an ordinance that would allow keg alcoholic beverages to be tracked through documentation and registration at the time of purchase.

The keg ordinance, in my way of thinking, addresses a problem, which is the distribution of alcohol from a private residence where a liquor permit is not required, Holmes said.

The comparison is, if you go to a restaurant or bar that sells liquor, that establishment needs to be licensed,” he said.

Holmes said it is not the same as when the keg is in private hands.

What we re trying to do is place the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the person or persons who purchase keg alcohol, he said.

The original ordinance proposed to the board was pushed through two of the three considerations needed to make it permanent.

Public forums were held in March for Ames residents and ISU students to discuss the proposed ordinance, which prompted Holmes to table the issue until this fall in order to give ISU students time to react before its final consideration.

The original ordinance has changed, Holmes said. He said he changed the ordinance after looking at similar laws in 23 other states.

Once you change a proposed ordinance, you have to start the process over again, he said.

Board Supervisor Jane Halliburton said Holmes has not communicated to Board members when he will put the ordinance back on the agenda.

Rich Parizek, manager of the Keg Shop, 218 Welch Ave., said he attended a public forum last spring and plans to attend any more forums that are offered this fall.

Parizek said he understands what county leaders are trying to do in order to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors, and agrees that could be accomplished through the proposed ordinance.

Parizek said it will not stop underage drinking, however.

Holmes said he will wait about a month before reintroducing the ordinance on the Board s agenda because he wants to give time for students to settle in so they will be able to attend future public forums.

Halliburton said the Board s discussion will be a continuation of last spring s talks  a continual interaction with this particular issue, not only with the Ames City Council, but also school districts as the ordinance focuses on underage drinking.

Iowa lawmakers are also focusing to control the state s underage drinking.

A bill signed by Gov. Tom Vilsack in May and put into effect July 1 increased fines for underage offenders who are caught purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol.

Under House File 275, first offenders will receive a $200 fine and second offenders will get a $500 fine.

Diane Tott, clerk of district court for Story County, said those fines translate to $294 for first offenders and $690 for second offenders when surcharges and court costs are considered.

Tott said under the new changes, second offenders must choose between completing a substance abuse evaluation or having their driver s license suspended for one year in addition to the fines; third and subsequent offenders will also receive a $500 fine and one year suspension of his or her license.