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Locals respond to proposed "Cinderella Law"

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma lawmaker is trying to delay when 21 year olds can have their first sip of alcohol on their 21st birthday.

House member Cory Williams, R-Stillwater, is calling it the 'Cinderella Law' and it would stop heavy drinking on a person's 21^st birthday, making them wait until 7 a.m. before they can have their first alcoholic beverage.

Williams says he wants to discourage the binge drinking that often occurs during bar business hours.  The inspiration for the bill was sparked when a Stillwater girl spent 3 days in the hospital after her 21st birthday.  Williams says hitting the bar on your 21^st birthday can result in big problems.

When the clock strikes midnight when you turn 21 most have one thing in mind, sipping their first legal taste of alcohol.  But that could all change soon if the "Cinderella Law" gets passed.

"Oh man!  For sure, almost every weekend, I mean they're pumped and ready!  I mean it's kinda the milestone to turn 21 and be able to go to a bar," said local bar owner, Stacy Sharp.

If the Cinderella Law passes, 21 year olds will have to wait to hit the bars.

"There's no difference when you turn 21 at midnight of that day.  You're 21 legally, and if our legal rights at 21 is to be able to consume alcohol and go into a bar and do that, I don't see where they have the right to take that away," said Sharp.

But Williams says the purpose of the proposed law is to prevent binge drinking.  7News asked people what they thought of the bill and the response seems unanimous.

"People have been binge drinking since the time they discovered that.  It's fun, so they're going to continue doing it.  And as far as the law goes, starting it at seven in the morning, that's dumb because instead of having two hours from midnight until you turn 21 to have drinks and such and bar closes at 2 a.m. you have a full day to drink with your friends and then go to the bar at 9 p.m. and you have six hours to sit and take shots," said Tonya Wheeler.

"I think that it's silly because once the clock hits midnight it's a whole new day and there's nothing lawmakers can do about that," said Carrie Espinoza.

There are more than 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning a year in the United States and the overall goal of the bill, if passed, is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths related to binge drinking.

The bill has been assigned to the rules committee and has not been heard yet.  Texas is also one of the states considering a similar law.