State senators Wednesday voted 35-0 to give first-round approval to a proposal that would hold adults liable for providing alcohol to underage drinkers who cause damage, injury or death.

"This is a tool that will help the State of Nebraska by discouraging adults from procuring for minors and compensating the people who are injured as a consequence," said State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, a trial attorney who helped negotiate the proposal.

Legislative Bill 573, proposed by State Sen. Lowen Kruse of Omaha, would apply to bars and liquor stores that sell alcohol to minors; adults who buy liquor for minors; and "social hosts," including parents, who allow other people's children to drink in their homes.

The Judiciary Committee, however, deleted Kruse's original provisions that would have allowed bars to be held responsible for damage that occurs after they have served already-intoxicated adults.

Only one-fourth of teen drinkers get their alcohol with fake identification -- the rest obtain it from an adult, Kruse said. "We need to teach adults."