Southington Reminds Parents To Help Teens Celebrate Responsibly

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Ahead of high school graduation season, the Southington Police Department and a local coalition are reminding adults who own or control property that it's against the law to allow anyone under age 21 to possess alcohol.

In a press release from Southington's Town-wide Effort to Promote Success (STEPS), officials said the social host law "creates a responsibility to make reasonable efforts to stop underage drinking should it be discovered," and said a person convicted under it could face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

STEPS' research has found that 17.6 percent of Southington students surveyed in grades 7, 9 and 11 reported that they had obtained alcohol at a party with an adult present who knew underage drinking was taking place, officials said, and 41 percent of 11th-grade students reported that they had attended parties where other students their age were drinking.

"Beyond criminal penalties, a social host’s potential exposure to civil liability is tremendous should someone be harmed due to underage drinking under their watch," officials said.

STEPS provided the following "Safe Celebrating Tips for Families":

• Know where your teens are going and how they are getting there.
• Talk to your teens about the consequences of underage drinking and help prepare them for handling challenging situations. Make sure that your teen knows that if they get in a situation that makes them uncomfortable to call you immediately.
• Call or meet the parents who are hosting parties to make sure they will be home.
• Talk to the hosting parents about the dangers of underage drinking and educate them about the CT Social Host Law.