Adults Take Wrap for Underage Drinkers

January 2007

Attempting to reduce the health risks of teenage binge drinking, laws are now being passed that could give police more authority to break up parties. These laws would also allow cops to fine adults, including parents, who may or may not be aware that an underage drinking party is going on in their home.

These laws called “social host” ordinances, can carry fines of $2,500 or more. While every state bans serving alcohol to minors, they are usually criminal offenses and not usually enforced as aggressively as they should. Now, communities are moving towards civil ordinances that can be handled administratively. This way the police offers who break the party up can fine the adults if they see minors drinking or possessing alcohol instead of having to go through the court systems.

Underage drinking costs the nation at least $53 billion a yearly due to traffic fatalities and violent crime, according to a 2003 report by the National Research Council’s Institute of Medicine. This eye-opening report has prompted more communities to hold adults accountable for underage drinking.

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