Implications of social host laws for parents By Joyce Kelly, Staff Writer 04/20/2006

Police Chief A. Wayne Sampson has a message for parents and other adults who thinking underage drinking is a "right of passage:" Not in his town.
   Believing kids are going to drink anyhow, some parents try to create safe conditions for their teens and friends to drink alcohol, he said.
   They might allow youngsters to have a party in the confines of their home, for instance, hoping, at least, they can control the situation and prevent accidents.
   But no matter where teens drink, how much safer underage drinking may seem, or how closely it’s monitored - it is still against the law, Sampson warned.
   The Social Host Liability Law makes it a crime to allow minors to drink anywhere, including home, the chief told hundreds of students and parents at last week’s forum on underage drinking held at the high school.
   It also prohibits anyone from supplying or "furnishing" youth with alcohol.
   Sampson explained how preventing drunk driving first touched home for him.
   He had just graduated from the police academy and starting work in Shrewsbury, when he was called to handle a bar fight.
   A few of the drunken men had driven off, and ultimately rear-ended a driver stopped at a traffic light.
   The accident killed that driver.
   "It was a completely innocent person - he had just graduated from medical school. That impacted my entire career," said Sampson.
   Back then, underage drinking was rampant in Shrewsbury, he said.
   "But what we did, is we brought [the issue] right out front. The days of 200 kids drinking down at Dean Park are over.
   "We made a conscientious effort and said, ’We may not be able to stop it, but we can do our best to work with kids, parents, and schools on this,’" Sampson said.
   No one took police seriously when they first announced their zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking, he said.
   "No one took it seriously - until we arrested 85 seniors at a graduation party five years ago.
   "The policy is simple: if you’re under 21 and drinking, we’ll take you into custody. It’s a formal booking, and yes, you’ll have a record with the Shrewsbury Police Department," he said.
   In this situation, police call a parent or both parents to pick up the minor, he said.
   "Of the hundreds of parents I’ve had to call, I tell them, ’I’d rather you pick up your kid here than at the hospital,’" Sampson said.
   "We have a message for parents who go away for the weekend and leave a high school kid at home: The Social Host Law applies to any person that might be in charge of a house," he said.
   The law states that whoever furnishes any alcoholic beverage to a person under age 21 shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment.
   "They were very specific, and defined what ’furnish’ shall mean: ’To knowingly or intentionally supply, give, provide, or allow a person under 21 to possess alcohol on a premises owned or controlled by the person in charge,’" said Sampson.
   He provided a typical scenario in which a parent might allow minors to drink: at a graduation party.
   "If parents provide alcohol, or allow kids to bring their own alcohol - you violated the law.
   "We prosecute for this in Shrewsbury," said Sampson.
   One judge ordered parents to go on public television and explain why they did what they did, he said.
   "I cannot tell you how many houses were totally destroyed, teens sexually assaulted, at [underage] parties while parents were away," Sampson said.
   Often, parents would not realize how out of control things got at their house while they were gone, because their kids would clean it, he said.
   So police started taking video cameras with them to these homes, and recorded the post-party damage before kids could fix it.
   "Things have changed - now the parties aren’t in the woods anymore - most weekend parties are in your homes," he said.
   Even under adult supervision, he said, teens get alcohol poisoning and have to be rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.
   "This is not a scare tactic; this is about us working together to try to save lives," said Sampson.
   In order to keep kids from making poor choices on a consistent basis, families should talk about the issue, suggested Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services Director Jeffrey Chin.
   "Do not avoid the topic, clearly state what your limits are, and what the consequences will be.
   "Show kids a way to respectfully decline drinks and save face," Chin said.
   Most kids start drinking alcohol in their own homes, or a friend’s house, Chin said.
   "Once kids are in college, they try to get phony id’s. You’d be surprised how many kids hang out outside of package stores, and get some parent to buy, because they think it’s a right of passage," Chin said.
   Chin also advised guardians have an ongoing dialogue with teens about where they are going, what they’re doing, and other things going on in their lives.
   Even at a young age, alcohol is used as a coping strategy for burdens and depression, he said.
   "Conversations are a huge positive influence on them," said Chin.