The Internet has brought efficiency to many aspects of life. Chalk up another -- buying alcohol while underage.

Teenagers are discovering myriad Internet sites with alcohol for sale with little or no age verification requirements. While the General Assembly is now targeting legislation toward underage drinking, state lawmakers might not be able to do anything about online sales to minors.

According to a study released by Skokie-based Teenage Research Unlimited last summer, more than a third of Illinois 14 to 20 year-olds know it's possible to buy alcohol online. Almost half of that group also reported it would be "easy" to get alcohol online or by phone.

This undercurrent of teen know-how is being overlooked as legislators take aim at other ways to curb underage drinking.

Within the last month, legislators from the Chicago area have introduced or plan to introduce two new bills regarding teen drinking to the Senate.

One bill would make it a felony for parents to knowingly serve alcohol resulting in bodily harm to a minor. Another proposal would take on marketing "alcopops" -- flavored malt beverages -- toward teens.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, is sponsoring the bill aimed at parents. Her legislation is designed to deter parents from being lax about alcohol consumption under their watch.

"(The bill is meant) to send a strong message that if they are allowing minors to consume alcohol at their house and there is a critical consequence, that parent will be accountable for it," she said.

But Garrett said she wasn't aware of the availability of alcohol on the Internet.

"It's going to be hard to crack down on (Internet buying)," she said.