COLUMBUS, Ohio — A state lawmaker wants to crack down harder on adults giving alcohol to underage individuals.

What You Need To Know

  • A state lawmaker wants to crack down harder on adults giving alcohol to underage individuals

  • The bill would increase the penalty of providing alcohol to anyone under 21 from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony if alcohol leads to a death

  • House Bill 674 was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing

Rep. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, introduced a bill that would increase the penalty of providing alcohol to anyone under 21 from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony if alcohol leads to a death.

House Bill 674 also calls for a mandatory prison sentence between six and 18 months.​

The bill is in honor of Trevor Pacek, 19, from Medina County, who had been drinking and drowned in a boating accident following a party in June 2020. The chaperone was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.

Trevor’s mom, Sharon, said she hopes this can save other parents the heartache the Paceks have to live with.

“Now is the time. Prom season. Graduation. Summer breaks from college. Now is the time to consider changing the law,” said Pacek. “Maybe. Just maybe, by changing the law. It may give pause to the next parent. May cause the next parent or other responsible adult to think twice before purchasing alcohol for an underage person.”

The bill says it would be OK for a parent, spouse or legal guardian to give alcohol to someone younger than 21 as long as they are around when the drinking is happening.

House Bill 674 was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.​