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"The Nassau social host law, which County Executive Thomas Suozzi is expected to sign at a ceremony today, would make it a crime for adults to allow anyone under 21 to drink alcohol. The penalties range from a $250 fine for a first offense up to $1,000 and jail time for a third.
Parents may serve alcohol to their own children, or to underaged guests during religious observances, according to the measure."
I think this is an excellent law and wish that Suffolk County would put one into place also.
I've seen and heard of too many parties where underage drinking was not only allowed but encouraged by the adults at the "host" home.
Some might say "if the kids are too young to drive, or aren't going to drive, what's the harm?". I say, plenty, and good for Nassau for saying that adults should be held responsible for allowing anyone else's kids (meaning under the legal age) to drink while in their home.
Normally I'm against any law attempting to regulate behavior in a private citizen's home, but I'm all for this one.
Since the Nassau County police can't seem to enforce the laws regarding blabbing on the phone while driving, ignoring pedestrians in the crosswalk, and not looking where they're going while they're driving, lets call out the National Guard. Have them bring plenty of handcuffs, Tasers, and billyclubs.
Arrest them. No ticket - jail. They wanna whine...WHAP, BANG. Have 'em cool their heels in a cell for a few days, perhaps it'll teach even these...characters some respect for human life.
Then, perhaps, we can cross the street without fearing being run over. And, then, perhaps, we can look at the terrible, awful, intolerable problem that some high school kid might have a few beers, under adult supervision.
I was arrested recently for social host violation
I am 21 years old
I think the law is ridiculous and needs to be changed. It should not apply to a group of peers drinking together on a Friday night. Being only 21 years of age and living in the residence where 6 others reside I was arrested I was in my room, where I was for most of the night. I had not purchased any alcohol nor was I aware that anyone else whom lives at the residence had, which they did not. It got out of hand while I was in my bedroom and again I was unaware, I do live extremely close to a college campus and apparently ALOT of people had walked over from the bars and dorms. They mention a "18 year old semi-unconscious girl" in the police report to use against me, but the "semi-unconscious girl" had not drank anything at my house and was coherent and talking to the police officers while walking.
I looked it up and its only a $250 fine, so a lawyer would be unnecessary
i have court on 5/18, what do i do?
I mostly think its garbage because I think the 21 yr old drinking age is a sham. The US is one of the only countries in the world with this restriction and its silly. Many college professors and presidents agree it should be lowered to 18. Underage drinking is going to happen either way and restricting it simply pushes it more into the underground and some studies show results in larger incidents or binge drinking and problems as it is more private and not an in the open event.
I know its a trite thing to say, but to allow an 18 year old to serve in the army, but not drink a beer is ludicrous. You can be a porn star, but can't drink a beer. You can sign contracts that are legally binding and could have serious ramifications, but you cant drink a beer. Why can 18 year old's make so many decisions except the one to drink responsibly or irresponsibly.
^^ I agree 100%. 18 year old soldiers are allowed to be killed in war but one has to be 21 to drink a beer? Something is wrong here people. The last I heard your considered an adult at 18 years old! No?
Thing is, its not just "a few" ... it's entire kegs.
Im in favor of lowering the drinking age to 18 .... in exchange for mandatory conscription for all high school students the day after high school graduation with a 3 year enlistment.
I see nothing wrong with holding the owner or "controller" of the house accountable for what happens as a result of deliberately breaking a law.
Whether you think the law is right or wrong doesn't change the fact that is IS the law at the moment. I'm sure some people see nothing wrong with selling drugs; does that mean drugs should be made legal?
As far as the 18-versus-21 argument goes, IMHO instead of lowering the "age 21" requirement I'd rather see the "allowed at 18" things RAISED to age 21. Personally I think the majority of people are not emotionally mature enough at 18 to do at least half of the things they're currently permitted to do.
And I'm not bashing this generation either, btw -- IMHO, 18 is too young for most things no matter what generation we're talking about.
Economy is bad, crime and gang activity on the rise... hey, let's waste time with more for-the-children moralistic garbage. If we as a society weren't so uptight about the use of alcohol, drugs, etc., laws like this and the mentality behind them wouldn't be necessary. Somehow the rest of the civilized world gets by with an 18-year-old (or younger) drinking age, why can't we?
Maybe I'm missing the point but isn't the purpose of the Social Host Law to make the adult homeowner responsible for adhering to the law?
Does it really matter whether or not someone thinks the law makes sense? It is the law whether anyone likes it or not. Does it even matter what the law in question IS?
Let's draw a couple of comparisons that has nothing to do with age requirements.
(1) Currently, prostitution is illegal (whether you or I think it should be or not, or whether it's legal in Denmark or wherever or not) in the USA. If someone is found to be running a brothel in their home and is arrested for it, it's because they're breaking the law by operating a house of prostitution. True?
(2) Currently, the sale of cocaine, heroin, and other drugs is illegal. If someone is arrested for selling drugs out of their house, they're arrested for drug dealing. True?
Currently, serving alcohol to people under 21 is illegal. If Joe Schmoe throws a party and knowingly hands out beer after beer to kids under 21, why shouldn't he be held accountable under the law in the same way that the people in examples 1 and 2 are?
I honestly don't see how anyone can have a problem with the concept of "If you break the law and get caught, you must suffer the consequences".
Does it really matter whether or not someone thinks the law makes sense? It is the law whether anyone likes it or not. Does it even matter what the law in question IS?
Just because it's the law doesn't mean that it's right. In any event, this is a discussion forum, so yes, it matters what people think. If only what people thought mattered to the government that establishes these shoddy laws.
Quote:
Currently, serving alcohol to people under 21 is illegal. If Joe Schmoe throws a party and knowingly hands out beer after beer to kids under 21, why shouldn't he be held accountable under the law in the same way that the people in examples 1 and 2 are?
You don't understand the law. The owner of the house can be charged even if they don't serve any alcohol. In fact, they can be charged even if the minors bring their own alcohol over and drink it in their house. Your examples, then, are flawed. If I own a house and someone else sells drugs out of it, no, I don't get charged with drug dealing unless I was involved in the sale of drugs. However, if this "social host" law were applied to drug dealing, I would be liable if, unbeknownst to me, my kid sells a bag of weed to his friend on my property.
That poster above seems to be involved in this story (http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lisoci1012750539may09,0,6835425.story - broken link). Of note:
Quote:
The police spokesman said people were drinking beer and liquor, though Norken, Winer and Menyuk are not accused of providing alcohol to the underage partyers. A person can be charged under the social host law even if minors provide their own alcohol.
Note that in this instance, college students are being charged when other, younger college students are consuming alcohol in their home. The stupidity of this ranks up there with charging two high school kids with statutory rape if they have sex.
Clearly the law was intended to curb permissive parents from allowing minors to gather and consume alcohol (a dubious justification to begin with), but as we typically see, the law will be used by law enforcement to punish anyone who falls within the technicalities.
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This Law is being used for the wrong purpose
