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2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />19 <br />'110 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />210 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />�30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />Request four Council Action, <br />Date; January 14,2008 <br />Item Number: 9.a <br />Department Approval Manager Approval Agenda Section <br />Item Description <br />Social Host Ordinance <br />Background,: <br />Alcohol is the drug of choice for teens and young adults, and alcohol-relatedincidents are the <br />leading cause of death for this age group, Alcohol use and abuse often leads to traffic accidents <br />and fatalities, property damage, assaults, accidental overdose and even suicide. Research shows <br />people who begin drinking alcohol as adolescents are more likely to become chemically <br />dependent. The Minnesota Student Survey, excerpts of which will be highlighted at the Council <br />presentation,, indicates that consumption of dunking by teens 'is a signi ficant 'Issue 'in Roseville, <br />as it is in most communities throughout the state and the nation, and that youth often obtain <br />alcohol at house parties. <br />I <br />Current Law: It is a cri mfinal offense for an adult to furnish alcohol to a minor, and an individual <br />under age 21 can be charged with possession or consumption of alcohol. If a person s injured <br />by an underage i ntoxicated person, the injured person can sue to recover damages for the harm <br />suffered. <br />^e% <br />The Problem: It is not currently 'Illegal (a. criminal orrense) for an adult to allow teens and young <br />0 adults (under age 2 1) to consume alcoho I in their homes — it "is only 'Illegal for the adult to fu suns <br />h <br />the alcohol. Often, law enforcement is called to the site of a loud party and finds adults in the <br />home while a teen/young adult party involving alcohol s in progress. If everyone present denies <br />that the adults furnished the alcohol, the adults cannot be arrested. <br />36 The Solution: A Social Host Ordiname would allow law enforcement to charge the indivi dual <br />37 who hosts the underage drinking party, imposing cffininal responsibility on, hosts Will have a <br />38 deterrent effect and reduce the number of underage dfinking parties and, hopefully, reduce the <br />39. numbers of teens and young adults who choose to use alcohol. <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 The proposed Social Host Ordinance would make "it a misdemeanor offense for an adult to host <br />414 or allow an event at their home or other property if: (1) they know that an underage person is <br />45 dn"nking or in possession, of alcohol and,, (2) the adult falls to take reasonable steps to prevent <br />46 possession or consumption. The adult would not have to be present at the party, event or <br />417 gathen*ng to be cn*minally responsible, <br />48 <br />49 <br />