The Holly Springs City Council has adopted a “social hosting” ordinance that holds party hosts responsible for underage drinking.
The measure is aimed at persons over the age of 21 who have social gatherings in private residences or on private property where three or more non-related persons have gathered, and at least one of them is under 21 and not a child of the host.
“No social host shall allow a gathering to occur or continue if an underage person at the gathering obtains, possesses or consumes any alcoholic beverage” and the host knows it, the ordinance says.
A host must take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage drinking, such as controlling access to alcohol, verifying the ages of guests and remaining on the property to supervise the gathering, the ordinance says. If necessary to shut down a party, a host can call the police.
The law does not apply to conduct “solely between an underage person and his or her parent while present in the parent’s household.”
About the Author
