Gov. Daniels touts alcohol immunity law

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said Friday he is proud of the college students who pushed a new law encouraging people to seek medical help for those who are dangerously intoxicated.

Daniels held a ceremonial bill signing in his office for the "lifeline" law shielding people from arrest on public intoxication or underage drinking charges if they get help for someone facing an alcohol-related emergency.

"This is a backstop for some situations in which some young person does something reckless," Daniels said Friday, as he stood before student leaders who lobbied for the law during this year's session. State lawmakers who pushed for the measure, including Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington and Rep. Randy Truitt, R-West Lafayette, also were in attendance.

Supporters hope the law, which takes effect July 1, will make college students and others more likely to report alcohol poisoning. The state reports that 21 underage drinkers have died in Indiana since 2004 because of alcohol poisoning.

"This is a very, very tough decision sometimes that has to be made," said Brett Highley, former president of Purdue University's student government.

When asked if this would give students a free pass for binge drinking, Indiana University student body president Justin Kingsolver defended the law, saying students essentially have two decisions to make: whether they start drinking and whether they call for help later if a friend drank too much.

"Encouraging the right decision with one really has nothing to do with the second," Kingsolver said.