A state Senate committee unanimously approved the measure, and Lt. Gov. James Aiona urged the legislature to pass the proposal. A move also is underway to include drug offenses to the bill.

"For some of our young people, there's certainly things in the law that they really pay attention to," Aiona said. "Once they find out that if you're caught with liquor -- and you don't have to be driving -- or you consume liquor, your license will be suspended, that will get around very quickly."

The bill calls for suspending the licenses of underage drinkers until they reach age 18 or for 90 days, whichever is longer.

Local law enforcement and Mothers Against Drunk Driving support the bill; opponents include the state Office of the Public Defender, which noted that the bill gives offenders no chance to redeem themselves after a violation.

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