Mejias and Legislature hold public hearing on proposed 'social host law’ to deter underage drinking

Law would punish party host for serving alcohol to minors at private parties

A “social host” law proposed by Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias (D-North Massapequa) will be the subject of a public hearing before the full Legislature Monday, June 18. The law would make it possible for party hosts to be prosecuted if alcohol is consumed by underage guests, slapping social hosts with a $250-fine if they are found to be serving alcohol to minors at private parties. A second violation can bring a $500 fine and a third, a $1,000 fine and possible jail time. Similar laws exist in the cities of Long Beach and Glen Cove in Nassau County, and Amityville in Suffolk County

“Some adults believe underage drinking is just part of growing up and therefore think it is acceptable to give alcohol to underage people,” said Mejias, “but this law will send a clear message to adults that providing alcohol to underage youth is not acceptable and it’s against the law.”

Maureen McCormick from the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, Executive Director of Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), and Judi Vining of the Long Beach Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking gave testimony in favor of the law.

According to national statistics, almost 50% of teens report having attended parties where drinking occurred and parents were present.In local surveys, 70% of high school seniors report drinking at parties in homes.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice stated, "Unfortunately there are some parents who would rather be the 'cool' parent than the responsible one. These are potentially life and death decisions parents are making not only for their children, but often for the children of others."

The proposed social host law punishes anyone over the age of 21 who is aware of underage drinking at a party at their residence. A violation of the law would be punishable by a fine of $250; a second violation, $500; a third and any subsequent violations, $1,000 or up to a year in prison.

“Underage drinking is a national healthepidemic, NOT a ‘rite of passage,’” said Judi Vining, Coordinator, and Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking at Long Beach Medical Center.“Nassau County is not immune.It has both long-term consequences and short-term tragicpotential for our children. Social host legislation holds those who 'allow' underage drinking accountable. As a county, we know that cars are not the only risk for drinking kids:we need to send a clear message that government will not participate in helping our children harm themselves bylooking away."

"It's not an attempt to stop all parties, just the ones where underage drinking occurs," said Stacy Saetta, legal policy researcher with Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation's Center for the Study of Law and Enforcement Policy in California.

Research shows social host liability laws are effective. In an analysis of all 50 states, social host laws were associated with reductions in drinking-driving and heavy drinking.

“The legal age for alcohol consumption is 21 no matter where minors drink,” said Deena Cohen, MADD Long Island President. “Parents that serve alcohol to those under 21 should be punished. We at MADD will stand behind any law that will curb such behavior. We as adults are charged with the responsibility of protecting our youth; therefore those of us that do not should not only get a fine but be charged with child endangerment.”

The law will go before the legislature’s committees on June 4 and if approved, will move on for a full hearing and vote before the legislature sometime in the next month.

-SOME FACTS-

?Across the country, laws are being passed to put an end to the underage drinking parties in which adults provide the booze.

?Alcohol kills 6.5 times more young people than all illegal drugs combined.

?It's a factor in nearly half of all teen car crashes and up to 65 percent of teen suicides.

?It's linked to two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students.

?Most underage drinking happens at somebody's house, a house that's invariably owned by an adult.

Facts Provided by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation's Center for the Study of Law and Enforcement Policy in California.