Morgan Hill officials are considering adopting a social host
ordinance to address the problem of underage drinking at large
parties. We applaud the intent but urge great care in crafting the
ordinance.
Morgan Hill officials are considering adopting a social host ordinance to address the problem of underage drinking at large parties. We applaud the intent but urge great care in crafting the ordinance.
Police say they respond to 15 to 20 large parties each year where underage drinking is occurring.
These parties usually come to their attention because a neighbor complains about a loud gathering that is disturbing the peace.
When they arrive, police typically find lots of younger-than-21 party-goers often spilling into the street and exhibiting loud, unruly, obnoxious behavior. Many of these partygoers leave in vehicles, and are then driving under the influence.
Sometimes these parties are held at local hotels and motels. According to police, some motels are responsible about preventing large drunken gatherings, others are not.
Three to four officers try to break up the party, arrest underage drinkers and prevent drunken driving. They’re often greeted with violence from partygoers and anger from parents.
We agree that it’s a problem, but don’t think that the social host ordinance that’s currently proposed properly addresses the problem.
Laws are already on the books that ban underage drinking.
Laws are already on the books that ban drunk driving.
Laws are already on the books that ban disturbing the peace.
Laws are already on the books that ban giving alcohol to anyone younger than 21.
Passing a social host ordinance won’t create additional officers to enforce those laws.
We see two missing pieces from current laws: a mechanism for holding parents responsible for their minor children, and a mechanism for holding hotels and motels responsible when they chronically allow drunken gatherings.
We’d like to see a social host ordinance that holds parents and guardians responsible – with stiff fines – when alcohol is served at their home to anyone younger than 21.
We think it’s important the ordinance be carefully written to ensure that landlords – who are required by law to allow their tenants private use of the property they rent – are not held responsible for the actions of their tenants.
Responsibility must be placed on the shoulders of renters who are parents and guardians, not at landlords.
We note that smart landlords include a clause in their lease allowing for swift eviction of any tenant who breaks the law on the rented premises – and serving alcohol to a minor and disturbing the peace are two laws that would qualify.
We like the idea of administrative citations – provided fair routes of appeal are available to anyone cited – for hotel and motel operators who turn a blind eye to large, drunken gatherings on their properties.
We note that smart hotel and motel operators keep a sharp eye on anyone from the area who is younger than 21 and rents a hotel room.
Let’s not write bad or redundant laws. Once they’re on the books, they’re difficult to remove.
Instead, let’s write a targeted ordinance that fills the gaps in the current law.
