Beginning
July 1, every police and sheriff’s department in Iowa will have an additional
tool to help reduce underage drinking: a social host law.
During
the 2014 Iowa legislative session, through the efforts of numerous community
members, prevention coalitions and Iowa legislators, the statewide social host
law was sent to Gov. Terry Branstad, who later signed it into law. This means
that when an adult knows youth 17 years
old or younger are drinking in the homes, buildings or on property the adult
owns, leases or rents – and the adult does nothing
to stop it – he or she can be charged with a simple misdemeanor and fined
$200. The social host law does not apply to landlords/managers of such property
or juveniles who lawfully handle alcohol in their employment, or their managers.
The
state social host law does not affect those social host ordinances already
enacted by counties and cities.
An
overwhelming majority of youth – 90 percent – reported that their parents did
not want them to drink alcohol without their permission, according to the 2012
Iowa Youth Survey. In the same survey, obtaining alcohol at parties was
identified as the most common way for Van Buren County youth to obtain alcohol.
Some local community activists have been promoting social host ordinances at
the city and state level for a number of years to address this condition.
Preventing
youth from experiencing the personal heartache that is a consequence of underage
drinking – in the form of accidents, sexual assaults, violence,unplanned
pregnancy or alcohol poisoning – will always be a worthwhile endeavor. The
social host law will be one more tool to reduce youth access to alcohol.
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