Wisc. Bill Terms Alcohol a 'Date-Rape' Drug September 28, 2001
News Summary
A person who uses alcohol to pave the way for a sexual assault would face the same penalties as those who use illicit 'date-rape' drugs like Rohypnol, under a bill recently introduced in the Wisconsin legislature.WISC-TV in Madison, Wisc., reported Sept. 27 that the bill sponsored by Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) would allow assailants to be charged with second-degree sexual assault if their victim is drunk at the time of the attack, as is the case when victims are under the influence of other 'date-rape' drugs.
Alcohol is involved in 90 percent of sexual-assault cases, but is currently not considered a 'date-rape' drug under state law. "So the message that sends to rape victims is that if you were too drunk to give informed consent, that is your problem in the legal system," said Berceau.
Berceau's bill also would protect minors from prosecution under state alcohol laws if they are a victim of, or witness to, a sexual assault. "There is no other bill that will have a more positive impact in addressing the sexual-assault epidemic on college campuses across the state," said Austin King of the group Men Opposing Sexual Assault.
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