A WARNING TO PARENTS ABOUT THE NEW HOST LAW
A warning to parents that you are breaking the law by allowing teens to drink in your home: We know that you love your teen and want to make your teen happy. So you decide to throw a party at your home.  It is a celebration for a birthday, a graduation, or maybe winning a game or taking a trophy.  You open your doors to your teen’s friends, classmates or members of the team.  You provide a safe place, food and soft drinks.  You may even allow them to spike the punch.  You plan to make sure no teen drives home if he or she has consumed alcohol.

Yet unknowingly you just broke the law.  You are not aware of the new Host Act Adopted in 2007.  Public Act 06112 is now Section 30-89 and 30-80 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

AN ACT CONCERNING UNDERAGED DRINKING:
SUMMARY: This act makes it illegal for someone who possesses or controls private property, including a dwelling unit, to

1. Knowingly permit a minor to illegally possess alcohol in the unit or on the property
2. Fail to make reasonable efforts to stop a minor from possessing alcohol in the unit or on the property when he knows the minor possesses alcohol illegally

The act makes a first offense an infraction and subsequent offenses subject to up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $500.00 or both.  The Act is entitled “An Act Concerning Underage Drinking”. It has far reaching consequences.  You should not allow teens to use alcohol.  You are now held responsible.  In the Hartford Courant dated May 12, 2009, there was a front page account of what happened at a parent’s home to celebrate Prom Night.  A loving father attempts to have a safe alcohol/drug-free party for his teen’s graduation.  It ends in a complete disaster for the father and many innocent teens. 

UNDERAGE DRINKING AND ITS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES:
A quote from the father. “I am an ordinary parent who was trying to do the right thing.  I just wanted to throw a nice fireside party for my kids and their friends after the prom.  I was told that about 30 kids would be coming.  But in this age of texting, Facebook and cell phones, 200 kids were at our place.  Our Neighbors called the State Police about the rowdy party."  The father became the latest poster parent for Connecticut’s tough new underage drinking law.  After three teenage party goers had to be carried by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for intoxication, the father was arrested and charged with Risk of Injury to a Minor.

This is a serious charge. IT IS A CRIME TO SERVE ALCOHOL AT A HOME OR ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TO UNDERAGE TEENS. The father admits “I did not buy any alcohol for these kids, but I knew they would be drinking.”

On May 13, 2009 another article appeared in the Courant entitled A WARNING ON TEEN PARTIES, Adults Can Face Criminal Charges.  Adults who allow underage drinking on their property are breaking the law by permitting it and hurting teenagers, police and lawmakers said Tuesday at a news conference prompted by a Cornwall father’s role in an after prom party that drew over 100 youth and the police.
“There is no safe place for underage drinking” said state Sen. Jonathan A. Harris, D-West Hartford. “It’s illegal.”
James Strillacci, West Hartford police Chief, said Tuesday that reports about the Cornwall incident underscore the risks and legal problems that adults face by allowing underage drinking at gatherings at private homes.  Adults break the law by doing so, allowing the youths to violate the law and can be legally responsible if any of the underage drinkers get into accidents, the chief said.
“If you allow it at your place, it’s going to be your problem,” Strillacci said.