Social Host Ordinance

Goal: The Carver County Board intends to discourage underage possession and consumption of alcohol, even if done within the confines of a private residence, and intends to hold people criminally responsible who host events or gatherings where people under 21 possess or consume alcohol regardless of whether the person hosting the event or gathering supplied the alcohol.

Click here for the entire proposed ordinance [0].

By Richard Crawford

Carver County is forging ahead with plans to buckle down on party hosts that knowingly allow underage drinkers on their property.

On Tuesday, county commissioners gave a preliminary OK to move ahead with a countywide “social host ordinance” that would be one of the first of its kind in the state.

The ordinance, which is expected to be brought before the board next month for consideration, establishes penalties for any person hosting an event where alcohol is present and being consumed by people under 21.

Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson and Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight endorsed the ordinance at a work session Tuesday.

Knight said the issue has been discussed for several years. He said officers came to him to express concerns about the ability to penalize people who know that underage drinking is taking place on their property.

Currently, it’s difficult to prosecute property owners unless they bought or provided alcohol for underage drinking, Knight said.

Sheriff Olson pointed to recent statistics indicating a growing trend in underage drinking.

From 2005 to 2006, the number of tickets for underage consumption for people ages 18 to 21 increased by 50 percent, Olson said. During the same time period, the number of tickets for underage consumption by people under age 18 increased from 136 to 198 – a 46 percent increase.

Olson also used the example of an incident last year when a 20-year-old man was found dead in a Dahlgren Township pond. It was later determined his blood-alcohol concentration was about three times the legal limit for driving. The man, Olson said, had been drinking at a field party.

Olson said he would expect the ordinance to come into play “a handful” of times per year. He described it as another tool for law enforcement officials to crack down on underage drinking.

Olson said there are graduation and prom parties throughout the county where parents have furnished alcohol.

In Chanhassen, one group of party-goers took over a house and caused thousands of dollars in damage while family members were vacationing in the Caribbean.

The ordinance, Olson said, wouldn’t be designed to go after parents who had no knowledge of the party, such as parents who were out of town.

Knight agreed.

“There’s no dilemma for innocent property owners,” Knight said.  

If found guilty of the social host ordinance, an adult would face a misdemeanor charge that could result in three months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. A juvenile would face a lesser penalty that could include community service.

Janet Cain, an attorney for Carver County who has helped craft the ordinance, said similar host ordinances are in effect in states and cities across the country. Cain said that various county departments and city officials have been contacted about the proposed ordinance and there have been no negative comments.

Commissioners expressed support for the ordinance but also asked the other drugs besides alcohol be included in the ordinance.