DES MOINES – Senator Amanda Ragan said Friday that the Senate sent a message this week when it approved a bill aimed at curbing underage drinking parties.
“In a unanimous vote, the Senate approved ‘social host’ legislation,” Sen. Ragan said. “SF 2310 sends a message that it is not appropriate for adults to host underage drinking parties. Those who do will pay a $200 penalty for the first offense and a $500 penalty for a second or subsequent offense.”
Ragan said it is currently illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under 21, but it is not against the law to host a party for underage drinkers on your property if you do not provide the alcohol. Many cities and counties have ordinances that prohibit hosting parties for underage drinkers, but state law does not prohibit it. Mason City and Cerro Gordo county both have social host laws.
“Underage drinking is a serious health and safety problem,” Ragan explained. “In 2012, more than 200 Iowans under the age of 18 were convicted of Operating While Intoxicated.” She cited a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which states that car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. About a quarter of those accidents involve an underage drinking driver.
It’s mostly COUNTY laws that are passed. Most every county around has the social host laws.
I’d like to see the laws that the detractors say are already in place and how it compares to what is being legislated. Isn’t it currently okay for parents to provide their own children with alcohol? Or am I out of date on that?
@mediator-I am not sure about the question you ask. But, it should be up to the parent if they want to give their child a little alcohol, not the government. In Europe the kids drink beer with every meal. Since when is it O.K. for a nanny government to tell people how to raise their children? Now, giving alcohol or allowing alcohol for someone else’s child is not O.K. and we have had social host laws about that for years.
The democrats will not vote on any new bills, they only want to pass bills that are already laws. That way they can say they are working hard for us and their paycheck.
How dumb is this. We already had laws to prevent this. I really resent our legislator’s wasting time of redundant stuff like this.
I could be wrong but I think it is a city ordinance right now, not a state law.
@Viking-you could be right but I know most of the city’s have it. Garner, Forest City, Manly, Northwood, Mason City are a few I know of having seen the police reports. That is the way it should be. We don’t need big brother telling us everything we should do.
I totally agree with you