The information recorded by retailers is available to law enforcement officers who have confiscated a keg consumed by underage youth. This allows the purchaser of the keg to be identified and arrested or fined, for supplying alcohol to underage persons. The deposit fee required at the time of purchase is forfeited if the keg is returned with an identification tag that is defaced or missing. Included in the registration, purchasers are required to sign a statement promising not to serve alcohol to underage individuals. This portion of the policy educates purchasers on the potential liability of providing alcohol to underage people.
Beer kegs are often a main source of alcohol at parties where underage drinking occurs.
In addition, kegs may encourage greater amounts of alcohol consumption, increasing the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol and other alcohol-related problems. Keg registration may reduce youth access to beer kegs by providing a mechanism for identifying and penalizing people who provide alcohol to underage youth. When police arrive at underage keg parties, people often scatter. Without keg tagging, there is no way to trace the purchaser. Keg registration allows police to identify and take action against adults who provide kegs to underage youth.