RICHMOND – The General Assembly has approved several bills targeting underage drinking and has sent them to Gov. Bob McDonnell to be signed into law.

The bills would increase the penalties for teenagers who drink and drive and would restrict instances in which a parent can provide alcohol to a child under 21.

Approval of such legislation comes as recent U.S. data showed underage drinking on the rise and more Virginia teens consuming alcohol.

Last week, the U.S. Partnership for a Drug-Free America released a study showing that alcohol consumption among American high school students increased 11 percent from 2008 to 2009.

“This year’s advancing underage drinking legislation in Richmond is an apt response that alcohol continues to be the most commonly used substance by Virginia teens and that nearly 11 percent of those killed in the commonwealth’s drunk driving crashes are 15-19 years old,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, president of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

WRAP is a nonprofit public-private partnership based in McLean that works to prevent drunken driving and underage drinking.

During this year’s legislative session, the House and Senate passed several measures to crack down on underage drinking. Erickson said the bills included:

■ House Bill 862, sponsored by Delegate Benjamin Cline, R-Amherst. Under current law, when a juvenile is convicted of an alcohol-related offense, the case is automatically dismissed once he completes his probation. Under HB 862, the dismissal would not be automatic.

■ HB 863, also sponsored by Cline. It would prohibit courts from issuing restricted driver’s licenses, for traveling to and from school, for people under 18 who have been convicted of driving under the influence or of refusing to take a blood alcohol content test.

■ HB 1293, sponsored by Delegate William Cleaveland, R-Roanoke. This bill clarifies current law that allows parents to let their children drink alcohol. HB 1293 makes it clear that the drinking is permitted only in the family’s own home.