Archive for Prevention Works
Fairfield Group Tackles Underage Drinking from WSYX ABC 6/ Fox 28
Posted by: | CommentsLancaster, Ohio — Fairfield County may consider toughening its law against parents who host parties that allow underage drinking.
Such a proposal will be presented at Monday night’s Lancaster City Council meeting by Prevention Works for Drug-Free Fairfield County. The group would like to make it easier for police and prosecutors to pursue charges against holding the events.
Current law prohibits “knowingly” allowing underage drinking. Prevention Works for Drug-Free Fairfield County wants “knowingly” changed to “negligently.”
The current penalty, however, would not change. The first-degree misdemeanor carries about a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/wsyx_vid_1239.shtml
Group, director look to amend party-hosting law from Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the Lancaster Eagle Gazette 11/9/09
BY JOE GIESSLER
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
LANCASTER — A county organization wants to toughen a law against parents caught hosting parties with underage drinking.
Toni Ashton, director of Prevention Works For Drug Free Fairfield County, said the current law allows parents to claim ignorance and get off the hook.
“We are focused on house parties where parents would have alcohol available to their children’s friends,” Ashton said. “If I send my child to a house for a party, I feel safer knowing that person knows not to give alcohol to my child.”
The current law prohibits any person from “knowingly” allowing underage drinking. Ashton wants the Lancaster City Council to change the law to read “negligently” instead of “knowingly.”
She said the change in the law would make it easier for police and prosecutors to pursue charges against parents who become hosts to such parties. The penalty for breaking the law would not change. It is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by about $1,000 and six months in jail.
Ashton will make a presentation to the Council during their meeting at 7 p.m. tonight.
“If a parent is in the upstairs bedroom, while underage consumption is going on downstairs, that adult could be charged with violating the law,” Ashton said. “Even if they said ‘I didn’t know,’ that’s an example of negligence.”
The alcohol prevention coalition sponsors the yearly “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” campaign to discourage social hosting.
Ashton said a similar law is working its way through the state legislature.
Lancaster Police Chief Dave Bailey supports the change in the city ordinance and believes it will help officers do their job.
“As it currently stands it is somewhat difficult for officers to prove the parents knew absolutely that underage drinking at the party was going on,” Bailey said. “Some parents have been looking the other way. This would take away the ability to look away and make them actively participate on the enforcement side of it.”
Bailey said it can be frustrating when officers are unable to prove the parents knowingly broke the law.
He said he hopes it raises awareness about the law, not just more arrests.
“I hope it will prevent underage drinking problems. The goal is to keep it from happening to begin with,” he said. “But it will be easier to file charges and get the parents to court.”
http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20091109/NEWS01/911090302&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
