Five years ago, Michigan began to approach the problem of underage drinking in a different way � vertically rather than horizontally.

A law went into effect on July 1, 2003, requiring the issuance of vertical (portrait) style driver’s licenses or personal identification cards to individuals under the age of 21.  As a result of this major change, purchasing alcohol has become more difficult for minors in our state.

Every driver under 21 in Michigan now has a vertical license.  The horizontal format has been gradually phased out over the last several years for minors as their licenses came up for renewal.  The new format has been welcomed by many parents as a smart innovation.

The vertical card gives restaurants, bars, convenience stores, casinos and law enforcement an instant visual cue to correctly determine a license-holder’s age and to immediately spot those not old enough to purchase alcohol.  It also has a more tamper-resistant design to thwart attempted alterations or forgeries.

There are more than 731,000 people under age 21 who currently possess a Michigan vertical driver’s license or personal ID card.  I’m pleased to say it’s less likely these young adults will succeed in using their ID to obtain alcohol than if they were using the old horizontal cards.  That difference can save lives.

One indicator of the Vertical Identification Program’s success is the steady decline in convictions under Michigan’s “zero tolerance” law.  The law prohibits underage drivers from having any alcohol in their systems.  In 2004, the first full year of the vertical license program, there were nearly 1,700 convictions.  The number has fallen each year to about 1,340 in 2007.

During the transition to the new license, the Department of State has teamed with a broad coalition of retailers, law enforcement groups and other organizations to highlight the law on a public awareness campaign called “We Check to Protect!”

Our objective remains to protect youths from obtaining alcohol, as well as other age-restricted products like tobacco.  It is important to their health and safety that we keep these potentially harmful things out of their underage hands.  We must continue to work diligently to ensure the young people of Michigan know the law and respect it. 

Deterring underage drinking is a significant challenge for our state, but with the vertical driver’s license, we are heading in the right direction.

Terri Lynn Land is Michigan’s 41st Secretary of State.